Palin & Global Warming

An underreported tidbit from the recent Sarah Palin-Katie Couric interviews was her response to the question of global warming:
-------
(Sept 30th; http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/30/eveningnews/main4490618.shtml)

Couric: Is it man-made, though in your view?

Palin: You know there are - there are man's activities that can be contributed to the issues that we're dealing with now, these impacts. I'm not going to solely blame all of man's activities on changes in climate. Because the world's weather patterns are cyclical. And over history we have seen change there. But kind of doesn't matter at this point, as we debate what caused it. The point is: it's real; we need to do something about it.
---------

Now, I personally like the idea of blaming man's activities on climate change. Take war, for example: seems reasonable to argue that warmer weather causes hot-headed behavior. Similarly, we already know about the depressive effects of cold, gray winter weather; just ask any Swede. But, I'm parsing here...I think she just unintentionally mangled her grammar. The more important point is: does it not matter whether you think climate change is man-made or whether it merely reflects natural cycles? If one believes the latter, how precisely can we "do something about it"? Cloud seeding to cause rain in drought-stricken areas? Gigantic sea walls to protect from rising sea levels?

Seems to me that what one believes is the cause has a hell of an effect on policy choices.

http://eatsblogsandleaves.blogspot.com