Climate of confusion: we can't even agree on the definition of reality

To the climate change "believer" (the opposite of a climate change denier -- this blog fits squarely in the camp of the climate change believers), the climate change problem is like a ship with holes in the side, which is slowly sinking.  The climate change believers would like to get at those holes to fix them, but in their way stand the climate change deniers, who are doing their level best to keep them away.

To the climate change deniers, on the other hand, the climate change problem is like a ship with no holes in the side, which is not sinking.  The climate change deniers think that the climate change believers are imagining the holes, and they are trying to keep them away from the sides of the ship, for fear they will make real holes and sink the ship.

After the summer of 2012, the climate change believers may have gained more followers, but both sides remain strong and adamant that they are right.  Which leads to the most basic problem of all: if we can't even agree on what is reality and what is fantasy, how can we possibly solve such a complicated and daunting problem as climate change?