Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum
― Kurt Vonnegut
A new poll finds that Amercans no longer see global warming as the biggest environmental issue facing humankind—
Climate change no longer ranks first on the list of what Americans see as the world’s biggest environmental problem, according to a new Washington Post-Stanford University poll.
Just 18 percent of those polled name it as their top environmental concern. That compares with 33 percent who said so in 2007, amid publicity about a major U.N. climate report and Al Gore’s Oscar-winning documentary about global warming.
Today, 29 percent identify water and air pollution as the world’s most pressing environmental issue.
The findings, along with follow-up interviews with some respondents, indicate that Washington’s decision to shelve action on climate policy means that the issue has receded — even though many people link recent dramatic weather events to global warming. And they may help explain why elected officials feel little pressure to impose curbs on greenhouse gas emissions.
“I really don’t give it a thought,” said Wendy Stewart, a 46-year-old bookkeeper in New York. Although she thinks warmer winters and summers are signs of climate change, she has noticed that political leaders don’t bring up the subject. “I’ve never heard them speak on global warming,” she said. “I’ve never heard them elaborate on it.”
Michael Joseph, 20, a student at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, said he sees extreme weather-related events such as the Colorado wildfires and the derecho storm that struck Washington on Friday as “having something to do with climate change.” But, like Stewart, he added, “I don’t really hear about it that much.”
See my recent post A Preview Of Things To Come?
There is Objective Reality, which scientists attempt to untangle for us. And then there is the Consensus Reality, which comprises the things which humans have agreed (consciously or not) to agree about. And far beyond that, somewhere within the confines of Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom, there is what Americans think is going on.
I'll jump to my conclusion today without preamble. The Human Experiment on Earth has failed. The jury is in, the verdict has been read. Planet Stupid? Bound for self-destruction? Guilty as charged on both counts. What does Objective Reality tell us in this case?
Mother Nature made a Big Mistake in the Pleistocene.
For those of you who do indeed have a clue about what's going on here on Planet Stupid, you have my complete sympathy and my condolences. Do the best you can here. Don't forget to have a good time on those rare occasions when life presents you with the opportunity to do so. Carpe Diem!
Some of you have children. Some of you may want to apologize to them now. Why wait?
More compelling evidence that the Human Experiment has failed comes to us in the latest episode of ABC's This Week with host George Stephanopoulis. As you know, Americans think that global warming is a political issue which everybody gets to have an opinion about. A subset of them think there are easy political solutions to the problem. These latter blame the others for their denial and obstinacy.
Conservative pundit George Will, also known here on DOTE as The Bowtie Of Understanding, believes he knows why the United States has been plagued with extreme weather events this year. In a word—
Summer!
But do not focus solely on George's happy view. The entire roundtable discussion is too ridiculous to ridicule.
Watching George Will, even for research purposes, would require me to use significant psychotropic enhancement.
It's a hard job you do, Dave. If you weren't sending the reports from Planet Stupid I might have to visit more often myself. Your sacrifice is appreciated.
Posted by: John Wilson | 07/09/2012 at 11:44 AM