GALLUP: Americans: Economy Takes Precedence Over Environment

[billyoc]

PRINCETON, NJ -- For the first time in Gallup's 25-year history of asking Americans about the trade-off between environmental protection and economic growth, a majority of Americans say economic growth should be given the priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent.



Gallup first asked Americans about this trade-off in 1984, at which time over 60% chose the environmental option. Support for the environment was particularly high in 1990-1991, and in the late 1990s and 2000, when the dot-com boom perhaps made economic growth more of a foregone conclusion.

The percentage of Americans choosing the environment slipped below 50% in 2003 and 2004, but was still higher than the percentage choosing the economy. Sentiments have moved up and down over the last several years, but this year, the percentage of Americans choosing the environment fell all the way to 42%, while the percentage choosing the economy jumped to 51%.

...

http://www.gallup.com/poll/116962/Americans-Economy-Takes-Precedence-Environment.aspx

[GoesTo11]

1. How to lie with statistics

This is a stupid poll question. What does it mean to "take precedence"? And right now, people are just really worried about the crash right now. That doesn't mean their interest in protecting the environment has changed.

[Fearless]

2. EXACTLY!

[billyoc]

3. That seems to be the point of the poll. My own interest in protecting the environment is secondary

to economic justice. It hasn't changed, it's just a much lower priority to me.

[varelse]

4. Ironically, the environment has more impact on the economy

than any other single factor. Americans just aren't informed enough to grasp that fact. Poll questions like this don't help clear up the confusion either.

[Lorien]

6. Indeed. Polling only the most ill informed is of little help

to anyone.

[Deja Q]

10. Well, we may as well die happy. I'm kinda sick and tired about getting sick and tired from

this economy, which also happens to be our ambient environment we're also stuck in. So I will do my part to be retained in it.

[Lorien]

5. You can't have economic stability without environmental health

Going green is one of the best ways to stimulate the economy-and protect our health and our future. With the planet set to run out of all natural resources within 50 years and climate change happening faster than most scientists predicted, it truly is a case of "now or never' when it comes to saving life on earth.Those who say that it's a case of "either the economy OR the environment" are obviously working for fossil fuel dinosaurs and the banks that own them.

[ddeclue]

7. False dichotomy / false premise - Gallup has contrived a false dichotomoy

based on the false premise that helping the environment hurts the economy which isn't true.

Indeed forcing energy efficiency actual frees up capital to be spent elsewhere in the economy.

Doug D.

[tabbycat31]

8. and you can fix both of them with one stone

[Stellabella]

9. False dichotomy indeed. Besides, we can still breathe the air and have

water to drink. And the weather isn't too extreme yet from climate change. But when the s*** hits the fan, the environment will be #1 again.