Why do global warming and peak oil skeptics speak out against their own economic interests?

Fri, 12/22/2006 - 1:10pm

Hummer Ad I don’t understand global warming and peak oil skeptics. What is their incentive to disprove global warming? Warming alarmists feel that they’re protecting the future of the planet—a pretty good incentive. But the skeptics don’t really get much payoff, unless they're energy majors, besides the opportunity to make fun of Al Gore. And yet people like Michael Crichton still get more press than Tyrell Owens on Monday Sportscenter.

If I were a scientist, and I knew that global warming and the oil crisis were only flukes, I’d keep my mouth shut. Why? Because there is money to be made when you know something to be true that no one else believes. Here’s my three step plan for getting wealthy fast, if you think that global warming is a hoax. 

If global warming and peak oil are not true, but thought to be true:
World's reaction  -> Financial Opportunity
1. Energy prices skyrocket as the world assumes the supply is dwindling  -> Buy oil stock and a make a fortune until the oil runs out. Which according to you, is never.
2. Coastal real estate prices drop out of fear that the oceans will soon rise and flood low-lying land  -> First buy up as much arid, high-altitude land as you can afford. Then, sell it at a premium to the throngs evacuating the coasts, convinced that their property is about to get swamped. Then grab that ocean-front villa you’ve always wanted at a government auction for abandoned property.
3. Costs of large, inefficient technologies drop as public clamours for eco-friendly products  -> Buy that big luxury SUV for $19,000 and no money down. Pick up a 72” diesel yacht on Ebay for just a little bit more.

But above all, never reveal the secret that global warming is just a hoax, invented by Al Gore.



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