Gallup, 19 March 2009
http://www.gallup.com/poll/116962/Americans-Economy-Takes-Precedence-Environment.aspx
Americans: Economy Takes Precedence Over Environment
First time majority has supported economy in 25 years of asking question
by Frank Newport
PRINCETON, NJ — For the first time in Gallup’s 25-year history of asking Americans about the trade-off between environmental protection and economic growth, a majority of Americans say economic growth should be given the priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent.
Gallup first asked Americans about this trade-off in 1984, at which time over 60% chose the environmental option. Support for the environment was particularly high in 1990-1991, and in the late 1990s and 2000, when the dot-com boom perhaps made economic growth more of a foregone conclusion.
The percentage of Americans choosing the environment slipped below 50% in 2003 and 2004, but was still higher than the percentage choosing the economy. Sentiments have moved up and down over the last several years, but this year, the percentage of Americans choosing the environment fell all the way to 42%, while the percentage choosing the economy jumped to 51%.
The reason for this shift in priorities almost certainly has to do with the current economic recession. The findings reflect many recent Gallup results showing how primary the economy is in Americans’ minds, and help document the fact of life that in times of economic stress, the public can be persuaded to put off or ignore environmental concerns if need be in order to rejuvenate the economy.
h/t to Benny Peiser
FULL STORY at http://www.gallup.com/poll/116962/Americans-Economy-Takes-Precedence-Environment.aspx
John Galt (10:54:39) :
I understand that Toyota loses money on every hybrid they sell.
Not unlike Chrysler, Ford and GM then. Except they must have been losing on everything they sold!
Kirk W. Hanneman (09:05:53) :
Cap-and-trade will not pass the U.S. Senate. There are way too many Democratic senators who must oppose such legislation on the grounds that their constituents will be badly hurt economically by such a scheme. There are only so many Barbara Boxers in the Senate. Combined with most of the Republican votes, there is a solid majority against imposing trillions of dollars of new energy taxes through cap-and-trade. Add on top of that the current economic climate and there is just no way this is going through. It might pass the House, but not the Senate.
You’d better to hang onto that hope. But really, politicians acting (voting) logically? Pigs may fly!
David Jones (13:35:31)
Politicians vote the way they do so that they stand the best chance at reelection, logical or not. People like Mary Landrieu or Jon Tester just aren’t going to be able to support cap-and-trade as it’s currently being proposed. They would be signing their political death warrants. I’m very certain that there are more than enough senators in this kind of position, coupled with solid Republican opposition (with the exception of a few), that this will not have a reasonable chance of gaining 60 votes in the Senate.
Brethren, be ye of good cheer.
The One has over-committed our current and future resources to the shrill and hysterical special interests. He will try to amortize your children into economic servitude in order to enhance the power of today’s ruling elite. There is nothing novel in this betrayal, although, yes, it is somewhat beyond biblical proportions. Give it less concern than your own conduct. The One is ephemeral, and you are not. Learn, prepare, endure, preserve, and teach. All these things you would have your children understand, am I right? Your power is in the character of your children, and your selves. Guard these strengths fiercely. In a few years, all The One’s successor will need do to get elected is promise to undo his actions, and we will change, change, change, and believe, believe, believe all over again. The One will be consigned to building a “library”, probably in some ghetto for political reasons, and he will become as meaningless as Monica is today. There will not be a “Two”. Then we will endure the stupidity, arrogance, and treachery of his successor. How can I stay optimistic? These policies of punishing American productivity guarantee minimal financing of their pseudo-marxist state. Since the anti-capitalist forces have placed all their taxation hopes on carbon dioxide eradication, their ruin is assured, as predicted by Europe. A broke Red is helpless Red. Meanwhile, capitalists will be gaming the new system. Doing what we do best, every loophole will be exploited, every Congressman will be bribed, and every profit maximized, in a tax-privileged fashion. A cynical capitalism will short The One’s new marxist economy, and hide the profits with impunity. Capitalists will bow obsequiously, and silently smirk. The days of The One already have a number. Can I get an “Amen”?
And while the Congress diverted the public’s attention with their act of anger at AIG bonuses, they quietly accepted a pay raise for themselves.
Henry Phipps
I’m always amazed at those who would choose a good ole boy as leader over someone who demonstrates that he has a brain and uses it . After 8 years of good ole boy leadership and 200 plus years of conservatism-how’s your 401/403 doing these days?
Anti-capitalistic forces? I believe the anti-capitalistic forces have met the enemy and they are themselves in this recent meltdown and in fact-all the previous ones (pretty much a 10 year cycle with a 70 year grand minimum). Those damned reds-sneaking in when no one was looking and injecting the markets with derivatives and the such!! All to set the stage for the grand socialistic maximum to come!! To the bunkers! To the bunkers!
In reaction to a Pew survey with similar results, Thomas Kostigen’s Ethics Monitor (an online column, apparently) reacted with an article titled, “Is global warming passé?: Issue drifting from minds of many Americans”, here: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/issue-global-warming-passe/story.aspx?guid=%7B069CE285%2D245D%2D4680%2D99B9%2D81783283C271%7D&dist=msr_5
“The way to strengthen the nation’s economy, improve the job situation, and defend the U.S. against terrorism — the top three priorities voiced by Americans polled — is through embracing environmental, or green, initiatives.
………………
“The pollution emitted by people and businesses that leads to climate change is the same pollution that crimps our health-care system with illnesses. It’s the same pollution that infects our food supply with things like mercury in fish.”
This drew 96 spicy comments, the first one of which read:
“Is that right? Show me one single case of CO2 illnesses.”
PS: Thomas M. Kostigen is the author of You Are Here: Exposing the Vital Link Between What We Do and What That Does to Our Planet (HarperOne). http://www.readyouarehere.com
So he is well read in the field, meaning this wasn’t an innocent error.
Dan Gibson (10:01:41) :
Dan, I believe you’ve made an assumption which, though understandable, is inaccurate. I don’t like Republicans any better than Democrats. There is no difference between New World Order George Bush, and New World Order Barack Obama. If you believe in politicians’ promises, fair play in professional sports, or the Easter Bunny, I’m not going to break the bad news to you. Both political parties are a self-selected ruling elite, which stand to election from time to time, but hang around no matter what the outcome. Reminds me of herpesvirus. This struggle which I only watch from the sidelines is not between the ruling elite and me. Both parties massively bloat the bureaucracy, and we still have the same problems I knew as a child. You are about to watch The One repeat every mistake of European socialism, at many times the cost. Businesses WILL game the new system, meaningful reform WILL remain a myth, and you may never experience a balanced budget government. When The One is no longer electable, and his bumper-sticker philosophy no longer gets a laugh, no other candidate can use his unique mystical charisma again without looking like Number Two. Pun intended.
Best wishes, Henry. P.S. I went to cash and fixed investments almost a year ago, because of technical indicators. Still can’t find much exciting to invest in yet. But thanks for asking.
But, still the greenies march onward:
“ONATHON PORRITT, one of Gordon Brown’s leading green advisers, is to warn that Britain must drastically reduce its population if it is to build a sustainable society.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5950442.ece
Perhaps Mr. Porritt will volunteer to be the first to do “the right thing”…