I don't know why global warming became a political issue--probably Al Gore's fault or perhaps it is a general distrust of scientists, and "elitists" in general, among roughly half of our electorate--but I will bet you are a Republican. Me too, but denial of science doesn't have to come with the territory. I have not reviewed the climate data or the climate models used by scientists--I am not qualified to form an intelligent opinion based on the raw data, and neither are you. Similarly, I do not know who is making huge money on the issue--and neither do you. In general, though, rich scientists make about as much as some of my lower-paid staff. What many divers
do know from first-had experience is that coral reefs--even those in remote places somewhat insulated from many of the effects of civilization--are steadily deteriorating, and rising water temperature is probably the culprit in large-scale bleaching events.
No stupider than my hobby of dragging thousands of dollars worth of gear around the world to take mediocre pictures that have been done many times before by better photographers.