The climate denying propaganda hinges on this false conflation: The scientists are in cahoots with the profiteers like Al Gore. That's the best way to dismiss this huge body of research out of hand.
Sorry, it's just not true. Show me a scientific paper that advocates cap and trade. Show me just one.
Scientists are stuck in the middle, with their research being distorted and cynically used by both sides. This thread is a great example of the harsh reality: most people, even the activists, are not exposed to the raw science. All anyone gets is provocative propaganda, moving them to fight proxy battles for the profiteers on both sides.
When I got started in atmospheric research, I did not believe in global warming. I bought into the natural cycles bullshit 100%. But I was just a chemist, and my expertise at the time had nothing to do with the atmosphere. But eventually I had to read the literature, and I had to face the real science. The question of global warming isn't "if" it's "how much." It's really quite clear if you dissect the science, but it takes time to drag yourself through all the research, and people don't have time for that. But that doesn't seem to prevent them from forming opinions and getting all hot under the collar over it. This is true for people on both sides.