Paul Ehrlich knows better than to make predictions within his lifetime.
“Political leaders and most people seem blissfully unaware that we are sawing off the limb upon which our civilization is seated. As the old saying goes, ‘it is the top of the ninth inning and humanity is hitting nature hard. But everyone must remember that nature bats last’.” [The Daily Climate]
Related Reading: The Real Population Bomb
He predicted several things would happen during his lifetime. He predicted that millions would starve to death during the 1980s, it did not happen. He predicted that Great Britain would cease to exist by the year 2000; last I looked it is still hanging around. He predicted that commodity prices would rise, Julian Simon offered a bet, he accepted and lost.
Ronald Bailey once said that Ehrlich is an inverse of Cassandra. Cassandra’s predictions always came true, but no one would believe her. Ehrlich’s predictions never come true, but everybody believes him.
The best way to make a new rash prediction is to conveniently forget that your last ones all failed miserably. Alzheimers is a blessing for environmental alarmists.
He is right–nature does bat last. However, he assumes nature is batting for his side.
This idiot couldn’t predict the time 5 minutes from now.
‘As the old saying goes, “it is the top of the ninth inning and humanity is hitting nature hard. But everyone must remember that nature bats last.”‘
Oh really? Exactly how old IS that ‘old saying’? Old enough to use a baseball metaphor (pre-2000), but young enough to reflect the belief that humanity is the adversary and Nature is the ‘good guy’ (post-1965).
‘Sayings’ that are not as old as you are cannot be considered ‘old sayings.’
At least when I make up a line I think is quotable, I have the decency not to lie about it’s age.