LA drought worst in 130 years

Above, the Los Angeles skyline, pictured in January 2007.

AFP is reporting that earlier today, the National Weather Service said Los Angeles is going through its longest dry spell in at least 130 years, fueling fears of rampant wildfires which have plagued the US west coast in recent years.

Yet another reason to fear climate change. When reports like this come out, it's more than a bit troubling to me. And this is just the beginning - the BBC reported earlier this year that many scientists are predicting that 2007 could be the hottest year on record.

This is just routine though - this has always happened, right global warming deniers?

Just unreal.

My thinking about global warming is this - what's the risk? If we prepare and take drastic steps to cut our greenhouse gas emissions and we curb and drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels, where's the downside?

What really makes me angry is how people reason that it will "destroy our economy" if we impose carbon caps on big businesses. It's a total crock. Has anyone thought about the jobs that would be created if the U.S. were to get aggressive in installing solar panels, wind mill farms, etc.?

I really don't have any doubt that Big Oil is behind much of the obstruction to the United States taking a much bigger initiative in curbing our fossil fuel dependence. Politicians love to get on TV and say how we need to reduce our dependence on oil, yet when it comes time to collect the campaign checks, they gladly open their arms and embrace the scum that is Big Oil. It's the millionth reason we need campaign finance reform in this country.

(AFP/File/Gabriel Bouys)