Back in March 2008, a poll from Gallup showed that 49% of respondents would choose saving the environment over economic growth, versus 42% saying they would choose the opposite. While that means pro-eco respondents outnumber pro-econ respondents, recent financial pressures have caused a major shift in public opinion.
Back in January 2000, for example, 70% of Americans surveyed by Gallup said they believed the environment should take priority over the economy. And keep in mind the March 2008 poll was taken before some of the worst economic news dominated headlines.
At issue is the possibility for growing support of policies that help our pocketbooks more directly than the planet. In May, Gallup found that 54% of Americans favored suspending the federal gas tax, much of which goes to alleviate some of the damage caused by car emissions, in the hopes it would lower gas prices, while a similar majority of Americans said they favored the expansion of oil drilling in offshore and wilderness areas that are currently "off limits," also to reduce the price of gas.
The shift in public opinion also can be seen in election rhetoric. Talk of environmental issues and climate change regulation appear to have completely disappeared from Democratic Party stump speeches. At one time, it was believed that Al Gore would be a key ally to the eventual Democratic candidate, but we have not seen Barrack Obama align himself whatsoever with Gore and his plans to build an eco-industry. Obama even has adopted a moderate oil-drilling stance.
In some ways, it would appear the Democratic Party has all but abandoned the bloc of green voters it fully embraced just a few years ago. Evidently, winning elections is more important than saving the planet or standing up for ideals.
As eco-pollster Ted Nordhaus told Time in a recent interview, "I think the financial crisis will strengthen the hand of opponents of carbon trading on both the left and right."
Stand tough outdoor industry; fighting for sustainability once again could become an uphill battle.
Friday, October 24, 2008
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