So you think the idea of intellectual minds pushing an absurd theory to a fevered pitch in the face of actual scientific data like we are seeing in Copenhagen is a new thing?  Ask Al Gore’s equivalent from France in the late 18^th century:

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon was a French naturalist, mathematician, cosmologist, and encyclopedic author. His works influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier.    He also advances his theory of American Degeneracy throughout academia in Europe for over 20 years.  This movement threatened to economically destroy the newly emerging nation of America.

Buffon’s Degeneracy Theory started like this: In his Historie naturelle (1766; Volume V in the William Smellie 1781 English edition), Buffon reported that quadrapeds in the New World were less diverse and smaller in stature than those from the Old World. He concluded that this was the result of an adverse climate. The New World wasn't conducive to the creation of large quadrupeds and those transplanted from the Old World degenerated. Buffon extended this degeneration to include Native Americans.

According to the eminent natural historian, the American continent had only recently emerged from the sea, and being covered with swamps, morasses and jungles, emitted noxious airs.  As a result, American plants were weaker and less utile the those in the Old World; animals were smaller and less aggressive then their European counterparts; Native Americans were physically, mentally and morally inferior; and even those animals and persons transferred to America would undergo progressive degeneration.

Soon other members of academia jumped on the bandwagon like Dutch philosopher Cornelius de Pauw, The Abbe Raynal and countless others.  Soon the topic was appearing in books of both fiction and science all the while becoming part of an accepted fact of the times.

The true hope of the people pushing this theory was to slow the potential drain on education and wealth to the New Word, holding this in check through the use of science.  In the end, it took another scientist to set the records straight.  Thomas Jefferson in his Notes on the State of Virginia did just that, with precise statistical evidence that far outweighed Buffon’s claims which were based on undocumented data and specious theories.

Comte de Buffon		Comte de Gore
Father: magistrate in the Parliament of Dijon Education: University of Angers Area of Study: Law and Government Actual Degree in Science: None Major Book: Histoire naturelle -  Written in brilliant style, this book was read by every educated person in Europe.  Later almost all of his findings were found to be baseless and false. Theory: American Degeneracy Public Debate of His Theory: Buffon was known for not debating in open his finding, even though this was a common practice within the scientific community.		Father: US Congressman and Senator Education: Boston University Area of Study: Government Actual Degree in Science: None Major Book: An Inconvenient Truth  -  Graphically illustrated (falsely photoshopped), this book was read by many Americans.  Later almost all of his findings were found to be baseless and false. Theory: Global Warming Public Debate of His Theory: Gore is also known for not openly debating his findings, and removing people from the forums who challange his theories with concrete scientific facts.

 
Today the concept of American Degeneracy is a well hidden footnote in history, one that the Global Warming movement apparently overlooked.  The truth, in the end, shall prevail.  It is up to us to follow in Thomas Jefferson’s foot steps and overwhelm the argument with facts.