It’s the Water, Stupid!

It’s said our primeval ancestors had a simple arithmetic system: “One, two, three, many”. That describes the focus of many 2008 voters, whose concerns are the economy, energy prices, Iraq, and “those other problems.” As we get closer to the presidential election, most Americans aren’t worried about global warming. Maybe they will be when they turn the tap and no water comes out.

Worldwide, most glaciers are diminishing. So is the ice pack in places like the North Pole and Iceland. While ice loss is generally regarded as compelling evidence of global warming, most Americans aren’t losing any sleep over it. An April Gallup Poll found that “while 61% of Americans say the effects of global warming have already begun,” only 37 percent are worried about it, roughly the same percentage that were concerned when Gallup first began asking the same question, nineteen years ago.

Why isn’t global climate change seen as a more important issue?

… Unless it slaps them in the face, the typical American can’t be bothered by an abstract threat. If there’s a global warming event – a mammoth hurricane, tornado, or forest fire – in our neighborhood, then we get concerned.

Smirking Chimp