Conservatives and climate change (a poll)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who thinks any of those things, OP. Granted, I don't know many American conservatives, but my conservative family in Europe, who votes for right-wing politicians, knows climate change is real, and takes action every day to mitigate it. Every day on the TV it's talked about seriously, with all sorts of ideas individuals can implement to do their part. Local governments are at the forefront of this fight, because they're dealing with wildfires and evacuations, bans on filling swimming pools, and even in some places a total moratorium on new construction because there's not enough water to support more residents, and, a ban on agricultural watering, which is a huge deal and will change what type of crops farmers grow (and what type of animal herds they choose to invest in). As a child growing up in Europe, we were taught about climate change in grade school, and read books explaining it. It's not a political controversy in any of the European countries I've lived in.

You don’t know any American right wingers? What delightful and peaceful bubble do you live in? Also how did you wander onto an American site and not understand that cons here absolutely believe the way OP implies?

I am conservative and none of the listed in OP is applicable to me or my family. I think you and OP getting your idea of conservatives from the media and don't know any of them in real life.

I think OP left out one:
"Climate change is/is not real, BUT don't you dare ban my gas stove, my internal combustion automobile, or ruin the economy." Doesn't matter what is happening to the climate.

PP I'm surprised, are you saying the conservatives you know do believe climate change is real, that the US must take action, commit to international climate agreements? What do the ones you know think? I'm from an area that was reliably democratic for decades, became a blue dog dem area starting in the 90s, went full tea party and then Trump in the last 15 years. I know those people. They do not believe in climate change, they do not want anything to happen that will disrupt how they live, and they totally don't want foreign governments having anything to say in what we do.

[Anonymous]

Climate change is real and you mofos gotta stop your spending if you want to save the planet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who thinks any of those things, OP. Granted, I don't know many American conservatives, but my conservative family in Europe, who votes for right-wing politicians, knows climate change is real, and takes action every day to mitigate it. Every day on the TV it's talked about seriously, with all sorts of ideas individuals can implement to do their part. Local governments are at the forefront of this fight, because they're dealing with wildfires and evacuations, bans on filling swimming pools, and even in some places a total moratorium on new construction because there's not enough water to support more residents, and, a ban on agricultural watering, which is a huge deal and will change what type of crops farmers grow (and what type of animal herds they choose to invest in). As a child growing up in Europe, we were taught about climate change in grade school, and read books explaining it. It's not a political controversy in any of the European countries I've lived in.

You don’t know any American right wingers? What delightful and peaceful bubble do you live in? Also how did you wander onto an American site and not understand that cons here absolutely believe the way OP implies?

I am conservative and none of the listed in OP is applicable to me or my family. I think you and OP getting your idea of conservatives from the media and don't know any of them in real life.

I am the only left leaning person in a large family of conservatives; my DH also has many conservatives in his family. What OP posted absolutely represents an array of existing conservative view points. In addition, one only needs to glance at Fox News or read the comment section on Fox News to see that what OP posted is exactly what conservative leaning Americans tend to think.

Let me break you a secret: conservatives don't watch Fox news.

You can stream Fox, you can see Fox news on local TV, you don't need cable.

I’ll bite. What label would you apply to Fox’s audience?

People who forgot cut cable cord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:B? I think if we can have normal temps followed by an ice age then swing back to normal temps naturally, then things can swing the other way as well. I'm not convinced it's man made.

Also H.

The last time an ice age was followed by "normal temps" it took 10,000 years. We've warmed up that much in 150 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The climate is always changing and on a much longer time scale than humans have been around to impact. Educate yourself on the Milankovitch cycles - https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2948/milankovitch-orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths-climate/#:~:text=These%20cyclical%20orbital%20movements%2C%20which,and%20south%20of%20the%20equator)

You heard it here first summer 2023 temperatures for most if not all of the US will be the lowest on record.

I think it’s so adorable that conservatives always think it’s some ground breaking news that the earth’s climate has AlWaYs ChAnGeD. It wasn’t habitable by humans for much of that time.

And for you, dear sweet summer child. It’s just a cartoon so perhaps you’ll grasp its implications: https://xkcd.com/1732/

This is really well done. Thank you, PP.

Can a conservative comment on this?

Why wouldn't you?

[Anonymous]

D. Climate change is real, but government-driven efforts are more feel-good and greenwashing than actually effective.

Libertarian here and pretty much this. Yes, this is real problem that needs to be addressed. Yes, this is one of the few cases where governments can actually do some good. But, especially if we are going to do something that will have adverse effects on people, we need to be sure that it is effective.

There is a long list of US-government-sponsored failed environmental programs, which either do nothing or make the situation worse: subsidies for corn-based ethanol and Cash for Clunkers come to mind.

Ultimately, I see this as a population-control problem, as much as anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The climate is always changing and on a much longer time scale than humans have been around to impact. Educate yourself on the Milankovitch cycles - https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2948/milankovitch-orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths-climate/#:~:text=These%20cyclical%20orbital%20movements%2C%20which,and%20south%20of%20the%20equator)

You heard it here first summer 2023 temperatures for most if not all of the US will be the lowest on record.

I think it’s so adorable that conservatives always think it’s some ground breaking news that the earth’s climate has AlWaYs ChAnGeD. It wasn’t habitable by humans for much of that time.

And for you, dear sweet summer child. It’s just a cartoon so perhaps you’ll grasp its implications: https://xkcd.com/1732/

Wow, that's an incredible timeline. Really well done.

I hope PP takes a look and comes back to comment!

[Anonymous]

I would add other options based on my conservative friends/family members: they don't think about it at all. Or they don't care to think about it. If it's real with immense repercussions, it won't affect them because they'll be gone before that happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are conservative or libertarian, which statement describes your view?

A. Climate change is not real, or at least it is not man-made.
B. Climate change may be real, but there is nothing the government can and should do to mitigate it, because it won't change anything (climate change is inevitable regardless of what we do).
C. China and India pollute more, and therefore we should not try and reduce our emissions, because it will threaten our economic competitiveness.
D. Climate change is real, but government-driven efforts are more feel-good and greenwashing than actually effective.
E. Emissions reductions and greener initiatives should be entirely left to the free market to solve.
F. I acknowledge climate change, emissions, pollution, and various forms of environmental degradation but I just don't find it to be as important as other issues that affect me more directly.
G. Climate change is exaggerated and an excuse for governments to try and restrict our freedoms.
H. Don't talk to me about climate change or the environment until every politician and elite like Bill Gates stops using private jets and lives according to what environmentalists want.

I. Climate change is real, but because Al Gore built his Outer Banks house right near the water, there is no imminent danger to the rest of us, mortals. Since he also flies private jet, I can take my two trips per year to Europe and Asia.

+1000

And since he invented the internet he must be smarter than all of us.

+million.

+ trillion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B? I think if we can have normal temps followed by an ice age then swing back to normal temps naturally, then things can swing the other way as well. I'm not convinced it's man made.

Also H.

The last time an ice age was followed by "normal temps" it took 10,000 years. We've warmed up that much in 150 years.

Great. I'm still skeptical, partially due to H as supporting evidence. I just feel if the enlightened billionaires really believed what they're preaching then their actions would speak louder than words.

[Anonymous]

OP left out another option, which I think is actually the largest segment:


“I don’t care about climate change because jeeeeeeeezus! is gonna be coming back soon to slaughter all the liberals and homos and Jews and no of this stuff matters anyway. I just hope I’ll be able to own slaves when I get to heaven!!!wooohoo!!!! Hiel trump!!!!!”


This is what I believe 99.3% of cons think.

The other .07% are at least smart enough to be atheists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B? I think if we can have normal temps followed by an ice age then swing back to normal temps naturally, then things can swing the other way as well. I'm not convinced it's man made.

Also H.

The last time an ice age was followed by "normal temps" it took 10,000 years. We've warmed up that much in 150 years.

Great. I'm still skeptical, partially due to H as supporting evidence. I just feel if the enlightened billionaires really believed what they're preaching then their actions would speak louder than words.

DP I guess I don’t understand this way of thinking. Who cares about the handful of “enlightened billionaires” and whynare you giving them such power? “Enlightened billionaires” seems like an oxymoron anyway. Anyone who is truly enlightened wouldn’t be hoarding billions, so clearly these people are not setting examples for humanity.

Follow the science. That is what we should be listening to. Stop getting distracted by celebrities. No celebrity has the gravitas that makes them worth listening to. Listen to the experts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who thinks any of those things, OP. Granted, I don't know many American conservatives, but my conservative family in Europe, who votes for right-wing politicians, knows climate change is real, and takes action every day to mitigate it. Every day on the TV it's talked about seriously, with all sorts of ideas individuals can implement to do their part. Local governments are at the forefront of this fight, because they're dealing with wildfires and evacuations, bans on filling swimming pools, and even in some places a total moratorium on new construction because there's not enough water to support more residents, and, a ban on agricultural watering, which is a huge deal and will change what type of crops farmers grow (and what type of animal herds they choose to invest in). As a child growing up in Europe, we were taught about climate change in grade school, and read books explaining it. It's not a political controversy in any of the European countries I've lived in.

You don’t know any American right wingers? What delightful and peaceful bubble do you live in? Also how did you wander onto an American site and not understand that cons here absolutely believe the way OP implies?

I said I don't know MANY. Those I know act to mitigate climate change. They're not stupid.

Why are you so rude and so dumb? You're not making your group look good, moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

D. Climate change is real, but government-driven efforts are more feel-good and greenwashing than actually effective.

Libertarian here and pretty much this. Yes, this is real problem that needs to be addressed. Yes, this is one of the few cases where governments can actually do some good. But, especially if we are going to do something that will have adverse effects on people, we need to be sure that it is effective.

There is a long list of US-government-sponsored failed environmental programs, which either do nothing or make the situation worse: subsidies for corn-based ethanol and Cash for Clunkers come to mind.

Ultimately, I see this as a population-control problem, as much as anything.

Rather than complaining about greenwashing and making excuses you should be pursuing change. Burning corn-based ethanol isn't a "liberal" thing, its a corporate Republican thing - Joni Ernst is one of the biggest people pushing it.

[Anonymous]

Burning corn-based ethanol isn't a "liberal" thing, its a corporate Republican thing - Joni Ernst is one of the biggest people pushing it.

I don't care who is pushing it. It is stupid, expensive, and counter-productive.