In spite of the media's near-constant nagging on global warming, only 25 percent of Americans view climate change as the world's biggest environmental threat, according to a new ABC News poll. Fewer than half - 47 percent - viewed global warming as "extremely" or "very" important to them.
But those poll numbers gave way to more media spin in an ABC "World News Saturday" report August 9.
"After years of debate over the reality of global warming, 80 percent of those polled now say they accept it as fact," anchor Bill Weir reported. "Seventy-three percent say it is a threat to today's children and 63 percent believe people and industry are to blame.
Weir didn't mention that while 80 percent of Americans believe global warming is occurring, they see much more nuanced debate over the causes and potential effects. While the media have tried to silence debate on global warming - as the Business & Media Institute showed in its report, "Global Warming Censored" - the American people understand there is still no consensus.
Sixty-three percent said there is "a lot of disagreement among scientists" on the causes of global warming. Only 33 percent of respondents said they think "things people do" are mostly responsible for climate change, down from 41 percent in April 2007. And even with the media ignoring the debate, 62 percent of Americans realize scientists disagree on how serious a threat climate change actually poses.
The media tend to run to the government for fixes to global warming problems, but Americans seem have more faith in markets. Forty-three percent said the government would do a better job reducing warming, while 45 percent said businesses are better equipped to address the problem through market-based competition.
The poll results suggested the media have some work to do to build their own credibility. Only 38 percent of respondents said "most" or "all" of written and broadcast news is accurate.
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After being bombarded with
August 11, 2008 - 16:59 ET by mattmAfter being bombarded with APGW fearmongering for the last 20 years, it's funny that only 63% think it's mankind's fault... You'd think it would be alot higher than that, if there was an ounce of validity to the concept...
I don't think it's funny, I
August 11, 2008 - 22:16 ET by ckc1227I don't think it's funny, I think it's sad....very very sad....that 63% believe a one degree increase over 100 years is man's fault. Sure, it could be worse, but 63% is bad enough.
Global Warming is not a concern based on Poll Results
August 12, 2008 - 01:31 ET by PopularTech84% of Congressional Republicans do not believe in "Man-Made" Global Warming (National Journal)
71% think Global Warming has nothing to do with Man’s actions (Pocket Issue)
66% of Americans do not believe Global Warming can be stopped (Rasmussen Reports)
65% of Americans reject spending even a penny more for gasoline in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (NCPPR)
59% of Americans do not believe human activity is the cause of Global Warming (Pew Research Center)
56% of Americans do not believe Global Warming is caused by human activities (Rasmussen Reports)
56% believe scientists are still questioning climate change (BBC)
Despite Awareness Of Global Warming Americans Concerned More About Local Environment (Science Daily)
Increased Knowledge About Global Warming Leads To Apathy, Study Shows (Science Daily)
Only 25% See Global Warming as a Threat (Business & Media Institute)
Only 24% Consider Al Gore a Global Warming Expert (Rasmussen Reports)
Only 33% of Evangelical Christians view Global Warming as a "major" problem (The Christian Post)
Poll: Many See No Need to Worry About Warming (ABC News)
Poll: Terrorism a More Serious Threat than Climate Change (FOX News)
The Anti 'Man-Made' Global Warming Resource
I want a new law
August 11, 2008 - 17:01 ET by wizardjrYeah, I know, that's not generally a good idea, but we've got to do something about the lies and distortions in media. I'd like to see a Truth in News law much like the Truth in Advertising law. It should have some major fines and jail time for the chief editors or equivalents to put some teeth in it.
Dont forget those sniveling
August 11, 2008 - 17:04 ET by bassndudeDont forget those sniveling little reporters that write the trash.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Minor correction: I think
August 11, 2008 - 17:17 ET by motherbeltMinor correction: I think you mean doesn't "faze" Americans, not "phase."
The media will spin the results to push their agenda; emphasizing what they want, and ignoring what doesn't fit.
I suspect there's an
August 11, 2008 - 17:18 ET by MidAmericaI suspect there's an extreme 'Bradly' effect in this poll. People may answer that they believe there's global warming but how many people do you know that are making substantial changes in their lifestyle based on the belief we are all going to die if we don't? I don't know anyone personally.
No suprise here. It's hard
August 11, 2008 - 17:21 ET by bws53No suprise here. It's hard to keep up with current events when you have shellfish taking over the continent.
bws, I have known some
August 11, 2008 - 17:47 ET by ConservativeRexbws, I have known some really lazy people in my time, but I think even they could outrun an oyster. Though it might be close.
Outrun an eryster? Why?
August 12, 2008 - 18:11 ET by danboMix ketchup, horse radish, hot sauce, and a little lemon juice. Dunk oyster in mixture. Place on cracker. Problem gone.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Thank goodness we have the
August 11, 2008 - 19:37 ET by Rush FanThank goodness we have the “new media”, the World Wide Web resources, to provide us with information and facts the liberal MSM, the “old media”, will not provide us. It’s hard to believe that prior to 1991, the creation of the World Wide Web, we relied almost exclusively on liberal TV, newspapers, and magazines. We were brainwashed and we didn’t even know it.
Real Clear Politics has an article by Jack Kelly titled Media Promotes Global Warming Alarmism that states in part:
“And the trend line is down. Average global temperature in 2007 was lower than for 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001. November of last year was the coldest month since January of 2000, and December was colder still. "Global warming has stopped" said David Whitehouse, former science editor for the BBC. "It's not a viewpoint or a skeptic's inaccuracy. It's an observational fact.
But observational fact matters little to global warming alarmists, particularly to those in the news media."
The New York Times John Tierney has a similar theme in his article titled In 2008, a 100 Percent Chance of Alarm. He begins: "I’d like to wish you a happy New Year, but I’m afraid I have a different sort of prediction.
You’re in for very bad weather. In 2008, your television will bring you image after frightening image of natural havoc linked to global warming. You will be told that such bizarre weather must be a sign of dangerous climate change — and that these images are a mere preview of what’s in store unless we act quickly to cool the planet.”
Of course, we've got to be careful to filter for accuracy and bias what we read in the "new media". An excellent example of bias in the "new media" is this article from the liberal Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting titled: Journalistic Balance as Global Warming Bias -Creating controversy where science finds consensus
It’s worth repeating – Thank goodness for the “new media”.
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"Climate change, my friend, I have to tell you with all due respect, is real. It's real and the question is how do we address it" ~ John McCain
Rush fan -- we gotta get these GW people some Help
August 11, 2008 - 23:34 ET by JayTeeIs the Ny Time employing the Un-Employable ?
"Journalistic Balance"...? There is nothing Journalistic about Temperature.
Predicting the Future is not a consensus event, in fact it's a very difficult issue. If the MSM journalists get real good at it, give me a Call.
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
MSM
August 12, 2008 - 00:41 ET by HippopaulimusPredicting the future? Hell, they aren't even good at trying to re-invent the past!...Did you check out the "What if" article on Mike Dukakis?
Warning!...you'll need the big rubber boots for that one, because it gets pretty freakin' deep! (I haven't seen that much crap since the old cess pool backed up!)
White - does not mean racist
Heterosexual - does not mean homophobic
Male - does not mean sexist
Where's the proof?
August 11, 2008 - 19:23 ET by HippopaulimusDamn, am I ever sick of this nonsense. I have been hearing about this BS for 20 years, and guess what? The winters are still cold and the summers are still warm...If it wasn't being rammed down everyone's throat, no one would even be discussing this non-issue.
And having a debate over the science only gives a sense of legitamacy to this garbage. ( and yes, I know...what debate...) The only "test" you need is, watch the evening news. During the weather segment they post a graphic of the record high and record low temp for the day, and the year it was set. If "global warming" was a fact, then there would be no record low temps recorded for at least the past 10 years. And, new recoud high temps would be set at least once a week.
Well, we all know that isn't happening. And, up here in New England, we are experiencing one of the coolest Augusts ever.
But hoping any politition is going to stand up to this is a pipe dream. They are all going to make boatloads of money off of fighting "global warming", and most of us are going to be forced to foot the bill.
White - does not mean racist
Heterosexual - does not mean homophobic
Male - does not mean sexist
AMEN!
August 11, 2008 - 19:28 ET by cocodrieAMEN!
When you brainwash ...
August 11, 2008 - 19:27 ET by wdhorningWhen you brainwash people with a lie, they believe the lie, and it is a boldface lie to boot.
"While the media have
August 11, 2008 - 20:07 ET by Clear thinker"While the media have tried to silence debate on global warming..."
If you go to sites like Real Climate or the DotEarth blog, both of which are screaming that the sky is falling, you will notice they seem to think that the media is putting too much stock in what they call the "denial" side of the story.
Actually, some of the people at these sites want the government to step in and force people like me "to shut up or pay the price" (not sure what the penalty would be?), and go so far as to have the Gov to threaten media outlets if they report the other side of the AGW debate. Scary people they are, at least IMHO.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Disgraceful
August 11, 2008 - 20:25 ET by dboIt is literally a "scare the living bejesus out of children" movement.
Are global warming alarmists encouraging children to commit suicide
because their carbon footprints supposedly are harming the planet?
http://www.heartland...
dbo...
August 11, 2008 - 21:39 ET by Clear thinkerHere's just another way that the left is brainwashing and scaring our kids...
"Fairy Camp is a two-week not-for-profit eco-magical arts day camp for girls ages 6-8 that celebrates the earth and the powers of imagination, intuition, and creativity."
I had never heard of these camps until I overheard a woman in her mid-thirties talking on her cell phone in a Doctors waiting area about 4 weeks ago. When she got off the phone I asked her what a fairy camp was. She told me it was a camp for young girls, and it was just like any other camp. You know, canoeing, swimming, arts and crafts, and of course "saving the planet". She did not mention the 'saving the planet' part to me and left me with the impression that it was just good old fun. Out of curiosity, I went online when I got home and the above explanation is what I found.
What bothered me was something she said during our little chat. She explained that her job was to go around to different places and set-up these camps. She then mentioned she had already set-up 28 Fairy Camps here in the Western North Carolina area. Seems to me, that what she is doing, equals an awful lot of brainwashing for one little area of the country.
I had the gumption to ask who she worked for, and I even innocently asked if it were the Girl Scouts, to which she replied.... "I work for a private concern that does a lot of work with children". I tried to press her, but she conveniently made another call on her cell, so that ended our discussion.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm