Government Must Act On Environment, Say Americans

[struggle4progress]

A large number of Americans say all levels of government in the United States should pay attention to conservation and ecological issues, according to a poll by Global Strategy Group released by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. 67 per cent of respondents believe the federal government is not doing enough for the environment.
<snip>
A proposal to ease environmental standards for the military has been sent to the U.S. Congress three times since Bush became president in January 2001. A plan to dig for oil in Alaska has also been criticized by environmentalist organizations.
<snip>
Polling Data
Do you think (the United States government in Washington / your state government / your local government) does too much, about the right amount, or not enough for the environment?

US State Local
Not enough 67% 61% 55%
Right amount 24% 31% 38%
Too much 5% 6% 3%

http://www.cpod.ubc.ca/polls/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewItem&itemID=2910

[Lorien]

1. When you can distract the people with a war

you can easily continue to do great harm to the environment. This abuse and neglect may cause nature to retaliate against us in such a way that wars will seem like a minor concern.

[bemildred]

2. Good. Now they need to vote that way. nt

[struggle4progress]

3. I always wondered why Americans support the environment ...

with their lips but not with their votes ... :evilfrown:

[bemildred]

4. My theory has always been that they are dumb.

When you consider the consistent way they vote for a government
that screws them raw, what else can you conclude? Why are
incumbents re-elected at a 95% rate, if the voters are not dumb?
All the redistricting games and so on are predicated on the idea
that voters are predictable and controllable, sheeplike in
other words.

This is supposed to be a democratic republic, which means the
voters are supposed to take care of business and call the
shots, yet most are content to select among the tweedle-dumb and
tweedle-dweeb choices presented by the two-party duopoly. This
very year we have a choice of Kerry or Bush, when it is clearly
Mr. Dean or Mr. Kucinich who have been right on the issues. Why
is that, if the voters are not dumb?

[struggle4progress]

5. I would prefer to believe that voters are inattentive and uninformed.

I must admit that, at least, I have gone into a back room and shouted "The voters are so #$%@ing dumb!"

But I usually don't want to believe it.

[bemildred]

6. You are kinder than I.

I think it is dumb to be "inattentive and uninformed" when
so much is at stake and you are being screwed raw with no vaseline.

Nevertheless, I understand what you are saying, it's not like
we are encouraged, rather the opposite.

[dubyaD40web]

8. Dumb? Or Lazy?

I say both.

Too lazy to press the button on the remote to change the channel from fox news, and watching all that mind-numbing propoganda (that and fear factor and american idol) makes them dumb.



Note that I admit to being outrageously lazy, but not too lazy to turn the pages of a book. Because I listened to my preznit when he told me "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are fantastic pictures."

[bemildred]

10. So, what did you think about Janet's tit, anyway?

I find I cannot watch TV, my brain veers off within a minute or so.
I can watch rental movies now and then.

But seriously, dumb and lazy are not unrelated characteristics.
Being smart is hard work.

[struggle4progress]

12. It's always been called the boob tube: * was on the other day.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I'd love to believe this...

but I suspect that the people who take the time to respond to environmental polls are either truly concerned about the environment or concerned that Dumbya's environmental record puts his
re-selection in jeopardy.

[struggle4progress]

9. But polls have shown the same thing for years and years:

Americans apparently do strongly support environmental protection in principle.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. But that's my point...

The polls show. But who is answering the polls?
There are a frightening number of people out there who really don't care about the environment; and even more people who care, but don't believe anything can be done without ruining the economy.

If they'd just read Al's book, they'd understand that a healthy environment is good business.

[struggle4progress]

13. I think many people care abstractly ...

who won't ever lift a finger to do anything.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. I think you're right...

They expect the work to be done by everyone else.