Got some vikes, AB, and a nap for my ear infection, decided to check email, found a link to this poll so figured I’d better pass it on. I was surprised.
Here’s question 88:
88. Which statement comes closest to your view about global warming? 1. Global warming is caused mostly by human activity such as burning fossil fuels or 2. Global warming is caused mostly by natural patterns in the earth’s environment. or 3. Global warming does not exist.
And here’s the results:
12 percent don’t think global warming exists. 42 percent say it’s man-made and 33 percent say it’s natural. 7 percent say it is a mixture of both, and 6 percent are in the “I dunno” or didn’t answer category. With only 42 percent saying it is human caused, that puts it in the minority view.
But what I think is even more telling is the fact that it didn’t even show up on the radar in question 3, which asks:
I’m sure “global warming” was in there somewhere, perhaps in the 14 percent of “other” responses seen near the end, but even with Al Gore’s recent media event to try to bring it to the forefront again, it appears to have had zero effect. Also telling: “Environment” gets less than 1 percent.
It’s jobs and economy which get the lions share of concern, which just goes to show that if people are poor, out of work, and hungry, they don’t have time to worry about elitist causes like Al Gore’s global warming crusade.
The poll with all questions is here: http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/250094/new-york-times-cbs-poll-results.pdf
The NYT news story on it is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/us/politics/obamas-support-is-slipping-poll-finds-but-his-jobs-plan-is-well-received.html?_r=1
Latitude says:
September 18, 2011 at 7:14 am
Frank K. says:
September 18, 2011 at 5:35 am
“So now it turns out that the Obama White House was warned privately in no uncertain terms last January against a fresh infusion of taxpayer cash to financially beleaguered Solyndra.”
=================================================================
So our government gave them our money….
…..that they turned around and donated to Obama’s campaign
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And changed the legal order of re-payment in case of bankruptcy so that Kaiser, a big contributor to Obama’s campaign gets repaid ahead of the taxpayers. Completely contrary to how the law is supposed to work.
This suggest that the White House was fully away that the bankruptcy was going to happen, and made very sure that large campaign contributors were protected, at the expense of the US taxpayer.
In other words, theft of taxpayer money on a massive scale, laundered through “green companies” to reward large campaign contributors. All done “legally” by a government made up of lawyers, headed by a law professor.
Jeremy says:
September 18, 2011 at 8:17 am
“Democracy is rotten to the core. It may be Dems implicated for supporting and enriching their Green socialist friends, but the flip side is no better with defence contractors on the gravy train.”
____
Let’s get our terms correct…it’s not that “Democracy” is rotten to the core, but rather that democracy as practiced in the United States (as a Plutocracy) is rotten to the core. You are correct that as practiced, it is not a question of whether those elected will serve one or more corporate masters, but rather, which corporate master they will serve. As the bulk of the wording in much of our laws are written by the lobbyists who work for those same corporate masters, it is the corporate masters who get to run the show.
So how do we change it:
1) Campaign finance reform with real limits on how much each candidate can spend
2) Term limits (3 terms the absolute max, but 2 is probably better)
3) Balanced budget amendment
If we want a government by, for, and of the people, we’ll need to fight for control of it back from the Corporate elite who currently run the show in Washington. But of course, the corporate masters know that if they can keep us fighting amongst ourselves over petty issues, we’ll not focue our attention on the bigger issue at hand (i.e. their control of our democracy). Why else do they resist campaign finance reform and term limitations so vehemently?
Anthony,
I just read your message to Dr. Pielke Sr. (http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/response-from-anthony-watts/). Since this specific post is categorized in “Al Gore”, I thought it appropriate to post my reaction to your message here.
I commend you for listening to criticism, and making changes based on that criticism. Aside from the breadth of coverage that is posted here, the reason I come to this blog often is because the varied voices are not black-holed, struck through or otherwise censored merely because you disagree with their opinions. Walt Meier. Judith Curry, Jerry Ravetz and others have also had prominent posts here and were dealt with respectfully.
Ad-hom’s, while they do happen here, are minimal, and are usually followed up with a factual basis for a difference of opinion. I don’t like the ad-homs, but at least there is substance to the stories. Your removal of a glaring ad-hom, based on feedback, speaks volumes about your character. As you stated, I hope Skeptical Science follows this good advice, and removes the more glaring ad-homs they prominently feature on their site. I also hope that they stop what I consider juvenile responses to Dr. Pielke’s reasoned comments on their blog. There is a marked difference how dissenting voices are treated at WUWT vs. how they are treated as SkS.
R. Gates, for once, there is little I can argue with. One solution is to disallow lobbyists altogether. Make it a crime, like being a pimp. If some corporate entity wants to be heard, let the CEO come visit or write letters to the halls of government, just like the rest of us are forced to do.
Al Gore’s Holy Hologram says:
September 17, 2011 at 4:48 pm
It’s just tragic that only 7% of people can think logically.
Actually, the correct answer, is #2 – “Global warming is caused mostly by natural patterns in the earth’s environment”, which a respectable 33% got right.
Depressing that 42% of the respondents are either knee-jerk Democrats, or just plain brain -dead, and either too lazy or unable to check things for themselves. Like some trolls we know.
This is a poll from deep in the New York City bubble. It is a major urban heat island with too many people, too much concrete and not enough carbon dioxide disposing plant life. All in all, it is a very interesting drama to watch unfold.
R. Gates says:
September 18, 2011 at 8:25 am
Your post reminds me of Marvin the Robot in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
If you already know the answer, then what’s the use? Ask your doctor if Apathy is right for you.
The concensus has shifted away from AGW, that much is quite clear. 3 years ago you couldn’t find a poll that didn’t list overwhelming support of AGW in print. Numerous AGW Scandals have taken their toll.
In reply to Ron Dean, wrong thread but never mind.
Do you consider this an ad hom too? “Dr. [Loonie] Lonnie Thompson, of Ohio State University”
From http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/08/23/quote-of-the-week-you-first-dr-thompson/
[sorry can’t do the strike through but everyone can see it on the link]
REPLY: Yes and in that case it is deserved. Dr. Thompson wants us all (including you) to vacate the planet, by any rational definition, that’s a looney idea. Dr. Thompson’s press agent reads WUWT and has corresponded with me. He is welcome to post a response. Of course, if you want to get into a pissing match about all such ad homs, even those made in “jest”, and demand they be taken down, may I suggest you start with this one? http://www.webcitation.org/5x0pgZdgl be SURE to scroll down to the bottom to read the “corrections”. Thanks for your consideration – Anthony
Here’s the link to the study I mentioned yesterday: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-09/ncfa-doc091511.php
Anthony will not find anything surprising, but it might be fodder for a post about yet another computer model attempt to reconcile AGW theory with reality
Deep oceans can mask global warming for decade-long periods
BOULDER — The planet’s deep oceans at times may absorb enough heat to flatten the rate of global warming for periods of as long as a decade even in the midst of longer-term warming, according to a new analysis led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
The study, based on computer simulations of global climate, points to ocean layers deeper than 1,000 feet (300 meters) as the main location of the “missing heat” during periods such as the past decade when global air temperatures showed little trend. The findings also suggest that several more intervals like this can be expected over the next century, even as the trend toward overall warming continues.
[shortened since I’ll be posting it soon]
REPLY: Yes I was just reading it on Eurekalert myself, and I sent a note to Bob Tisdale…this is really something – Anthony
Jack Simmons,
Thank you for the kind words. I keep on trying.
As the climate changes Australia has its Paul Nurse out and about as well-
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/climate-debate-hitting-new-lows-scientist/story-e6frfku0-1226140422434
although with the tide of public opinion turning on the warmist hype and the utter failure of Green policies to date, some are getting much more guarded in their urgings nowadays-
“I would urge politicians to look at all the evidence and to wonder why it might be that something like 32 national academies of science all around the world are all saying that it’s very likely that human activity has adversely affected our climate through global warming.”
and naturally the poor chaps need the public sympathy vote for being unfairly persecuted now with-“simply very nasty emails with veiled threats in them that what might happen to us in a very general way”.
You have to ‘wonder why’ it’s ‘very likely’ these folk are feeling ‘adversely affected’ by ‘what might happen’ to them ‘in a very general way’ with all the ‘veiled threats’ out there in such a climate. It’s either their ‘reasonable’ and ‘ever so umble’ approach to the poor misguided majority, or the caged attack dog response to all their holocaust deniers and tormenters out there now. Take your pick folks..
“One solution is to disallow lobbyists altogether.”
There’s a minor little thing called ‘freedom of speech’ which would get in the way.
A better solution would be to explicitly limit government powers to a few areas where it is required, so then lobbyists would be irrelevant because there would be few things the government could do to benefit them. You could create a document listing those powers and call it a ‘Constitution’ or something.
Otherwise, so long as control over trillions of dollars of taxpayers’ money is concentrated in the hands of a few hundred people then others will be eager to spend millions of dollars convincing those people to hand them billions. Worse, when those people can shut your business down overnight with a new law, a company pretty much has to pay lobbyists to convince them to let you continue operating.
Louise said on September 18, 2011 at 1:03 am:
Excellent! People have been paying attention to the real science as presented here on WUWT. The Earth has been warming, normally cited as since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850. There is a human-based component to it, as seen in numerous research on black carbon (soot), land use changes, and a host of other possibilities, although the sum may be trivial and overwhelmed by natural causes thus the “27 percent” could also be considered correct.
(And of course everything together except the supposed extra warming from increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations demonstratively swamps out the theoretical elusive “anthropogenic CO2 signal.” The poll makers were wise not to mention it specifically.)
This is cheering news! Thanks for mentioning it!
Pamela Gray says:
September 18, 2011 at 9:33 am
R. Gates, for once, there is little I can argue with. One solution is to disallow lobbyists altogether. Make it a crime, like being a pimp. If some corporate entity wants to be heard, let the CEO come visit or write letters to the halls of government, just like the rest of us are forced to do.
______
Glad we agree from time to time. Considering how many time a month CEO’s and our elected officials have lunch or go golfing together, is it any wonder that our laws are skewed to protect their coporate interests. But of course, now that our corrupt and overly powerful Supreme Court has made the ruling that Corporations are people, it makes an ironic and sad mockery of the statement, “Government, by the people, for the people, and of the people.” The joke is us…the real people.
I you had cared to actually look before you criticized, you would have noted that my comment was made more than 10 minutes prior to the correct thread being posted. So you criticize others based on your own shoddy homework, “but never mind”.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen the full context for Dr. Thompson’s quote. My best guess is that he used the quote as a linguistic device to draw attention to his perceived notion of the dire straits of glaciers. In that case, I personally would not mock the quote as it would be a quote taken out of context.
However, if Dr. Thompson meant anything close to what that quote states, then it deserves to be mocked and mocked in full. Some things are so far out there, that the only real rebuttal is to have fun with it at the other person’s expense.
Is this the R. Gates blog or the WUWT blog?
I can see it now, (unknown) moderator pens:
. . . “Gates, methinks it might be time for you to transition to your own blog, so have at it, big boy, you are history here …”
.
Heck, just to show there are no hard feelings, a link to his blog could be placed in the sidebar for a month or so … ANYTHING to get him/her away from here!
.
http://www.stuff.co.nz New Zealand poll
Do you believe scientists’ warnings over climate change-related extreme weather?
Yes 14933 votes, 32.9%
No 30448 votes, 67.1%
Total 45381 votes
When atributing significance to polls it may be wise to recall that a 2009 Gallup poll reported that 44% of Americans believe God created human beings in their present form within the past 10,000 years. I believe another relevant quotation is “I dont believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance” (I am told this quote came originally from Queen Elizabeth the first ) So we shouldnt attatch too much significance to polls.
goreathon was too late for this poll
http://www.webcitation.org/5x0pgZdgl be SURE to scroll down to the bottom to read the “corrections”. Thanks for your consideration – Anthony
Whoa!
I had to check out that link, Anthony.
Sounds like you really know how to party!
LOL
But, seriously folks: “Most Egregious Lie: “The Hockey Stick is Broken!””
Geez, if that is your most egregious lie, you must be a Saint.
Yeah, that’s the ticket – Saint Watts, Patron Saint of Weather Monitoring.
Will you be selling the Saint Watts medallions on CafePress?
Actually, I believe they are. The vast majority of people only know what is pumped to them by the MSM. As their interest is piqued, they begin to research the issue on their own. Once that begins, the number of “skeptics” begins to swell. As evidenced in these polls.
I know. I speak from experience. I bought the whole story, hook-line-and-sinker. Then I began to examine the issue wondering who these morons were that continued to doubt the official party line. Then my eyes began to open.
Let’s be clear. I’m an environmentalist. A deeply concerned and involved environmentalist. And I’m worried that the “green” sheen on what is obviously a scam will cast doubt on ALL environmental issues. The faster the whole CAGW thing goes away the better, for all of us.
You’re both wrong. The solution is TERM LIMITS. The reason lobbyist influence is so pervasive is because those they have bought remain in positions of power for so long. If they had to start all over again, from scratch, every 2 years very few could justify the expenditure.