I have a lot to say about global warming deniers. Most of it, however, I will save for later, because something even more horrifying has come to my attention.

Global warming’s effects on New England winters are putting the maple syrup industry in serious jeopardy.

Maybe you don’t believe in global warming, but this is MAPLE SYRUP we’re talking about here. Are you really comfortable taking chances? If polar bears aren’t your cup of tea, then I hope at least the fate of the McGriddle gets your attention. This must be stopped.

Okay, so there’s probably nothing even remotely resembling real maple syrup in a McGriddle. But I think you get my point. Wait, you don’t? Alright, well here it is. Most people can’t even begin to truly understand all of the far-reaching implications of global climate change. To the nay-sayers: you’re right. We don’t know enough. But what we do know is scaring the bejeebus out of me, and I’m not the only one.

Climate change is a little like eating Play-Doh. I don’t really know if it’s bad for you, but I doubt that it’s good. I’m not going to wait for the lab results before I decide not to eat it. Even if I’m really hungry and it’s right there in front of me (smelling a little bit weird, which should be my first hint that I don’t want to be digesting it).

Oh wait; you’ve never had the desire to eat Play-Doh? (What kind of a childhood did you have? What kind of a childhood did I have?) Well, I’ve never had the desire to build a coal plant. So there.

All of this brings us to the Senate’s debate over what to do about energy policy. I use the phrase ‘debate about energy policy’ loosely, because it’s actually a debate about whether or not to have a debate. The law cracks me up. This ‘debate’ reminds me of the old cliché about how laws are like sausages (you don’t want to see how they’re made). The issue du jour is a tax bill that will, among other things, extend tax incentives for renewable energy.

There will be another cloture vote tonight. It will likely involve more posturing and more grandstanding. At stake is billions of dollars and somewhere around 116,000 jobs. Even if you don’t take the specter of global warming seriously, shouldn’t the economic livelihood of over one hundred thousand Americans lead to a sense of urgency?

What will happen is anyone’s guess. The conventional wisdom is that you don’t want to watch the political process. But then again, maybe if more people knew how our laws were made, we wouldn’t have to worry that there was Play-Doh in our sausages.

Just some food for thought.