As global warming deniers move from “it’s not happening” to “it’s not human-caused” to “but it’s good for you” to “it’s too expensive to fix,” I’m reminded of a tale from the Talmud.

It seems a family was accused of returning a clay pot they had borrowed cracked beyond repair.

Reader support helps sustain our work. Donate today to keep our climate news free. All donations DOUBLED!

The accused family had three defenses:

  1. They never borrowed the pot.
  2. The pot already had a crack in it when received.
  3. They returned the pot completely unharmed.

Perhaps it is unfair to assume this story is about global-warming deniers just because it centers on a cracked pot.

Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.