“Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler a few years back.”

J.M. Keynes, about 70 years ago.

This is not a plug for Keynes, it is simply a reminder that the events of today are those of 2 generations ago on a different stage. Economists, climate scientists, the doubtful methods have a parallel.

Take heart that Keynes did eventually have influence, be it now in flavour or disfavour. He was writing of the debate about the control of inflation. Unfortunately, many now think the debate then was won by the side that was wrong.

BTW, IMO there is a good deal of concordance of thought processes between several writers on this blog and the Chicago economist Prof Steven Levitt. It can be read, with entertainment and fresh approaches, in the book by Levitt and Dubner “Freakonomics”. On Google or in Penguin paperback (or Morrow in USA), ca 2005.

… Ammann turned it down because it would be “bad for his career”.

You have stated that numerous times here.

Amman is listed as a contributor on RealClimate. So he really can’t go any further without throwing Mann, his co-contributor on RealClimate, under the bus. You really didn’t expect him to agree did you? He wouldn’t be much of a team player then.

…the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

Kind of wishy washy after two years of detailed study.

Geoff wins easily.