What gets me is the way we go on about the science in these matters. Science has almost nothing to do with making public policy. The world goes nuts because Canada allows killing of seals or keeps forests alive so we can cut them when they're marketable and green. The antis aren't committed to any particular political agenda, liberal or conservative; the boycott of our fish from killing seals comes from every ray of the political spectrum. It seems everyone thinks they know everything about natural resources when generally they know little. The political polarization that has the US tied in knots is analogous. I doubt there ever was a time when we saw clearly, thought rationally or acted disinterestedly on public issues but branding and imputing motives makes it difficult to impossible for progress on anything.
