Gallup poll shows Americans favoring economy over environment in dubious survey
It should come as no surprise that as America is in the midst of the worst economic downturn since at least the 1970s if not much longer, concern for the environment appears to be taking a hit. In its 25th annual survey asking whether the environment or economy should take precedence, Gallup has found for the first time ever that the economy came out on top with 51 percent saying growth should be given priority. Similarly, environmental protection has lost ground to developing U.S. energy supplies.
Unfortunately, while the results this year may have been predictable, the survey method is somewhat dubious. This is an byproduct of trying to quantify attitudes on complex problems. The questions are posed as either/or conditions, whereas the reality is that these are not zero sum games. To at least some degree, environmental protection can also lead to economic growth opportunities. Similarly, lack of environmental protection can lead to societal costs that cut into growth.
[Source: Gallup]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David 10:58PM (3/21/2009)
At this point I think we should relax emission and safety standards to equal the Euro standards so we can have access to all the cars they have. It's just so darn frustrating to be denied diesels and smaller cars. Of course, there should be a time limit to these relaxed standards. I also think that all SUVs with a V6 or bigger engine should be taxed at 25% to help slow the sales and convince these buyers to opt for a smaller vehicle. There should be an allowance made for people that actually need these for work vehicles as we don't want to punish those who actually use these as they are intended...which is to say...no business person needs to drive to work in a Suburban or an over-sized pick-up if all it's used for is commuting.
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DasBoese 4:07PM (3/22/2009)
No need to "relax" anything.
Generally, Europe's emission and safety standards aren't lower, they're just different.
But yeah, I'm for common standards between the EU and North America too, sadly there doesn't seem to be much interest from either side. Which is a shame because at least in the safety area, the differences are minimal. For it to work on an emissions level, before that can happen I think the US need to get their shit together, tell California to fuck off and introduce coherent national regulations.
I don't agree with slapping a tax on SUVs or anything like that though, and determining who has the "right" to own one because they need them for work is only going to create more bureaucracy.
Right now, there's no need to "slow sales" anyway because of the economic crisis, and once that's over, fuel prices will be high enough again to make people think about their choices more carefully.
Herm 11:28PM (3/21/2009)
I always believed they had different standards to keep foreign manufacturers out, but I dont think it worked..
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jharlan 1:25AM (3/22/2009)
If our economy goes to hell there wont be any revenue to fund environmental causes.
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Noz 2:52PM (3/22/2009)
And if the environment goes to hell, you won't much of an economy to worry about.
There is enough revenue to fund environmental causes NOW. We just need to stop wasting it on crap we don't need and instead spend on things for our long term future.
harlanx6 11:33PM (3/24/2009)
You have a lot to worry about, Noz, because I don't think anyone is listening.
michael Hippenhammer 5:42AM (3/22/2009)
I work for an environmental company that does energy audits on homes and busineses. To those of you who say that caring for the environment does not create growth for the economy should look at it a different way. My company has hired more than 70 people to our office in the last year and we are in many cities with similar growth in each. We go to homes and educate people on how to save energy and show them how to properly insulate their homes and we have a network of contractors that can do the work. Some of these people can save as much as 100% on their energy bills. I put plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors to work making homes more efficient. Because of my job I put refrigerator, furnace, washer/dryer, solar, compact flourecent light bulb, insulation, water heater, electronics and auto manufacturers back to work. People realize that you can invest in energy efficiency. It makes your cost of living go down and the quality of life better. It's about time we catch up with Europe and Japan when it comes to efficiency.
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Noz 2:54PM (3/22/2009)
Indeed. There is MORE THAN ENOUGH work and jobs in green tech and environmental industries that will be far more lucrative than the destructive path we've been taking so far.
Propping up the current auto industry as a whole is one ludicrous example. Instead of revamping the idea of transport and vehicles, we want to continue to fund a dinosaur.
stas peterson 3:34PM (3/23/2009)
Gee, you report on this and then try to discredit it.
The plain fact is that America has the toughest toxic emissions regulations in force in the world. All we have to do is stop piling more and more regulations on top of the ones we have, and let the present ones work for a while. as every pollution measure continues to improve.
The Air in America is cleaner than it used to be
The Water in America is cleaner than it used to be.
The Land in America is cleaner than it used to be.
We dispose of ourt waste much better than we used to do. The number of Superfund sites continues to decline as we clean them up.
American homes and factories spew less pollution and are much more efficinet itheirenergy use than they used to be.
It isn't a choice of one or the other alternative. It is merely a choice to forgo some truly assinine proposed regulations. It makes no sense to drive up electric rates ten times over by building Uneconomical wind or solar installations or a CAP and TRADE scam tax, of $600 buillion a year. Those higher rates would kill electric cars, and the air improvements that they would bring.
When merely building a clean coal, Integrated Gas Combined Cycle Coal plant and closing a present polluting one cleans the air of substantial pollution approaching 90% for some old "grandfathered" coal plants, and cuts CO2 by over 20%. Or alternatively building new, perfected, less expensive, and safer nuclear plants that reduce air pollution completely and cut CO2 by 100%.
Both these alternatives do not raise electric rates much at all. That makes USA products using their energy more competitive. It maintains the momentum to convert to electrified autos.
But greenie loons want to forbid the construction of both alternatives. The want a massive increase in expense=fro generating electricity that has failed to accomplish anything when tried in Europe not once but twice. All i did is reward the rentiers and scammers who ran those trading exchanges, . It is not surprising that some cynical Greens want this . Al Gore is planning on becoming a multi- Billionaire, as he has set up all the paper corporations to profit from this scam that will accomplish nothing in cleaning the environment,
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