I am with bobad and Cecil on this one. I have had the privilege of knowing and working with a lot of very good earth scientists (many of them PhDs). They know and understand the history of how the earth works (unlike wild-eyed Al). They warn about the politicization of science and do not to believe the doomsday approach of the ones who say "if we don't let THEM control mankind and the earth we will all parish". It is important to recall that the founders of this country (our forefathers) correctly held a strong belief that our collective freedom was more important than their (or any) individual lives. As Lincoln said, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion � that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain � that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom .... Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.