Remember "Bali High" from the musical "South Pacific"? Bali is where 10,000 delegates are meeting to discuss global warming. The conference is led by the United Nations, which means that you and I are paying for a big part of two weeks at this sunny resort.

If you have had much experience with conferences, you know that 100 people have great difficulty agreeing to anything, never mind 10,000!

Most scientists agree that we are in a warming period. The argument is about the influence of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants and the automobiles we drive.

Recent recorded history has documented these warming-cooling periods: 600 to 200 B.C., cold period; 200 B.C. to A.D. 600, Roman Warming period; 600 to 900, the Dark Ages-cold; 900 to 1300, Medievel warming period; 1300 to 1850, Little Ice Age; 1850 to present, warming period.

These swings in the Earth's temperature can hardly be blamed on CO2 from coal-fired power plants and automobiles since during most of the above listed periods they didn't exist!

One theory is that variations in the energy released by our sun is the culprit in the Earth's temperature change debate. These and other theories need more careful evaluation and research before we believe Al Gore's doomsday predictions and jump off the cliff in despair.

The recent action by Congress to require an average 35 mpg for all cars, light trucks and SUVs is a rash and unwarranted approach to the problem. Incidentally, where in our Constitution does it say that our government can dictate how we build the cars we drive?

To all you soccer moms I say rise up and save your SUVs from extinction.

Philip G. Buffinton

Bloomington