Pew asked Americans what the nation’s public policy priorities should be. Terrorism and the economy topped the list, with three quarters listing each a top priority. Jobs and education come in third and fourth on the list. Global warming is one of the great challenges of our time, but it doesn’t show up in the top 10. Nor in the top 20. The issue comes in 22nd of 23, with only 38 percent of Americans granting it high importance. Unsurprisingly, more Democrats rank global warming relatively high; 54 percent would make it a top priority. But only 15 percent of Republicans would. That 39-point partisan divide is the widest on any issue Pew asked about. Independents sat around the national average, at 39 percent. Adding in those who say that global warming is “important but lower priority,” 85 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of independents rank it as a significant issue. But that figure is only 36 percent for Republicans. Meanwhile, 31 percent of Republicans think the issue is “not too important” and another 31 percent believe that dealing with global warming “should not be done.” These numbers tell Republican leaders two things. First, they are unlikely to suffer significant political damage from opposing climate policies, since independents don’t seem to care as much about the issue as they do others — and even many Democrats aren’t enthusiastic. A large number of Democratic and independent voters don’t rank the issue high nevertheless favor doing something. But they’re not bashing down their senators’ doors demanding action. Second, a large swath of the GOP base demands intransigence — and another big chunk really doesn’t care. -article. washingtonpost/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/01/16/why-gop-leaders-are-reckless-on-global-warming/
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:36:34 +0000
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