Global Warming: Is it Real?

I have been around since 1953, and I believe global warming is real. When I was a child in the 50"s and 60's, we had snow in north Alabama and southern Tennessee. It wasn't unusual to awaken to drifts that reached the window sills. School was often canceled because there was snow on the ground, not just a threat of inclement weather. Sometimes we would get 6-8 inches overnight. All we had in Tennessee was a coal burning 'warm morning' stove, so I would scrape the snow off the pile and fill the scuttle; then freeze on one side and burn up on the other when we loaded the stove.

I do believe there is a hole in the ozone layer that causes the problem, but I have a problem with the scientific theory. Scientists say that global warming is caused by automobile emissions and other factors that "poison" the layer and make it break down. My theory is that they are full of it. How do the scientists know that every thousand years or so, the earth does not go through the same cycle? After all, one thousand years ago or ten thousand years ago, there were no recorded events in history.

What about the ice age? Are we due another migration of Glaciers across our beautiful terrain? Is this going to be related to global warming? When the glaciers melt and the sea level rises, will Atlanta be on the coast?

I do agree that our industrial pollution and automobile exhaust contribute to the deficit in the ozone layer, but I don't think that is all there is to it. Let nature take it's course before we drastically intervene and see if the Winters do not come back to the South. I don't know the length of time we must wait, but I do believe it is in hands more powerful than ours.

When I worked at Goodyear as a supervisor, we kept a log book of people who would call in to work due to weather. I pulled five years of these logs in the eightys, and all the calls occurred within 5 days of January 15, either direction. Of course, some people would call in if snow covered their car, but you get the idea. I think it's safe to say it's been twenty years since we had a measurable snowfall in this area. This is quite unusual.

As for rain, it seems the drought in the area begins earlier and lasts longer each year. This year, it began in May, and unless Divine intervention asserts itself, it will be September before the rainy season begins. I will concede that something is amiss with the weather...I just can't bring myself to blame it entirely on global warming.

I do not know what science has planned to close the ozone layer. I understand the majority of the hole is over Antarctica. That brings up another question...has Antarctica shrank? Is it warmer there? Why does a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica effect global warming across the rest of the earth, but does not make the ice flows in that area shrink? There is so much I don't understand.

Catalytic converters for example. They contain Platinum, which is very expensive and obviously successful in turning soot from automobile waste into water and such harmless chemicals; but, with catalytic converters, we must now have unleaded gasoline which is more expensive for the oil companies to produce and I feel certain they have made a handsome profit off this. The people who produce catalytic converters have convinced congress that it should be illegal to bypass the converter should it go bad; so, you are out substantial money if your catalytic converter stops up. It must be replaced with another converter or the mechanic that allows you to bypass it will be in a world of trouble if he/she gets caught.

Global warming has an impact, alright...on your pocket book. It won't be long before there are laws requiring you to drive a hybrid automobile.