95% confidence levels, or “science” by show of hands

Viscount Monckton of Brenchley speaks to the so-called ” confidence levels” that show that “95% of scientists agree” to anthropogenic global warming.

…a confidence interval of .95 corresponds to two standard deviations from the mean, and .99 to three standard deviations. However, there was no statistical analysis of the question whether most of the global warming since 1950 was attributable to us: therefore, no statistical confidence interval was appropriate, and the IPCC’s attempt to assign a quantified statistical confidence interval to a non-statistical process was inappropriate and, mathematically speaking, contemptible…..

There is a huge and fascinating story behind the loutish distortions of scientific, mathematical, physical, and statistical method that have led today’s scientifically-illiterate classe politique to place their faith in propositions – such as the “95% confidence” proposition – that are obvious nonsense. Surely it would be better to start asking real questions than merely to parrot uncritically the innumerate absurdities of a politicized clique of profiteers of doom in the scientific establishment. Time to raise your game. This once-fashionable scare is going down and you don’t want to be dragged down with it. Global warming is no longer cool. It is no longer a happening thing. Indeed, it is no longer happening. – Monckton of Brenchley

How many druids believe in necromancy? How many priests believe in transubtantiation? How many priests of voudun believe in zombification? Surely 95%! It’s a fact.