Scientists could have predicted the global warming crisis.
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Instead of "could have," scientists did in fact predct the global warming crisis. And has been on the issue for decades.
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Economists could have predicted this year's economic meltdown.
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As I understand it, there are many economists who predicted it. That Bushit, et al., didn't listen doesn't mean the opposite.
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Global traders saw that the world's oil supply was shrinking.
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That has been understood to be a reality for at least 100 years.
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In all of these cases, the world did not react until it was too late.
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It isn't yet too late.
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Will we do something to help the decreasing supply of fresh drinking water before it is too late?
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Huh? That comes from out of nowhere, right?

As concerns global warming, the world did not "react until it was too late". Ever hear of Kyoto? Gore and the world negotiated it. The world accepted it, Bushit rejected it.

Oh, right: you're not known for accurate statements if accuracy interferes with overstatement and hysteria "nnecessary" to getting it read.