As Climate Change Worsens Many Americans Refuse To Accept Reality

[babylonsister]

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/26/climate-change-worsens-americans-refuse-accept-reality.html

As Climate Change Worsens Many Americans Refuse To Accept Reality
By: Rmuse
Saturday, July, 26th, 2014, 7:20 pm



Reality is the state of things as they actually exist rather than as they may appear, might be imagined, or what a person wants to believe is true. More broadly defined, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible. It is a sad state of affairs in America that a large segment of the population cannot accept reality they can see, feel, and know is true and it is quite frankly similar to religious ignorance. Of course, there is a reason so many Americans do not accept the reality of global anthropogenic (man-made) climate change, but the fact is that it is here and another batch of empirical data show it is worse than scientists predicted.

The latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center is that the entire world’s oceans were hotter in June than at any time in recorded history. The previously high oceanic temperatures was in May, and they have been steadily rising and creating droughts, superstorms, flooding, and creating conditions conducive to devastating wildfires. However, it is not just the world’s oceans that are warming, global land surface temperature was nearly two degrees above the 20th century (1900s) average. It is important to remember, that June was the warmest month on record for the entire world; not just America and it followed the warmest May on record. This bears repeating; according to all known records, “June represented a significant milestone for the world’s oceans as it was the most anomalously warm ocean temperature than at any other time on record.”

One of the real travesties in America is that besides a steady stream of climate change denial from Republicans, the religious right, and fossil fuel industry, the profound level of ignorance among the population prevents a great number of people from understanding that ocean temperatures affect the currents that control the climate. It is nearly impossible to believe every American does not understand the simple concept because it is part of curriculum in every eighth-grade science class. Unless of course, it is schools where science has been replaced by the bible, or red states where climate change is portrayed as an evil United Nations’ plot to subvert America and destroy the fossil fuel industry. However, those states are suffering the devastation of climate change and it is baffling how human beings suffering historically severe droughts, wildfires, and water shortages can possibly deny the climate is changing for the worse.

snip//

According to a recent Gallup poll, only 36% of Americans see climate change’s effects as posing a serious threat to their way of life presently. A similar Yale poll revealed that the number of Americans who think global climate warming is a “right now” issue is 32% and they must all live in the Southwestern and Western United States where historically severe droughts and wildfires are adversely affecting residents’ lives.

Maybe as more Americans are exposed to extreme weather, severe droughts, flooding, and wildfires, the number of Americans acknowledging climate change is real will increase, and according to the NOAA, climate change’s effects are only going to get worse; much worse. Noted astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson believes the only thing that will convince climate-change deniers to face reality is “if they begin to lose their wealth, then they’ll change their minds real fast, particularly in a capitalist culture.” Tyson may be right, to a point, because the California drought has already cost the corporate agriculture industry $2.2 billion in profits and yet the only solution a Republican proposed is rolling back, permanently, environmental regulations the Koch brothers and Republicans have sought for a decade.

It is a sad commentary, but as long as Republicans, the religious right, and fossil fuel industry continue convincing ignorant Americans that what they see, feel, and suffer is a liberal hoax, and not the result of rapidly warming oceans driving climate change, there will be precious little action in Congress. With Republicans obstructing legislation of any kind, especially on addressing the effects of climate change, the only hope for Americans is a robust voter turnout in November because Republicans have made it abundantly clear that one of their highest priorities is preventing any action to address climate change, regardless the damage to the economy, the American people, or national security.

[nolabels]

1. Kind of reminds me of all the BDSM talk going on

Many have this secret place in their mind where they think they or someone should suffer because of that inability to grasp hold of the reality of how things really are

[Tetris_Iguana]

2. I hardly think that's what they are advocating.

BDSM is a fully consensual relationship between two or more adults who enjoy unconventional sexual acts.

I would think that would be understood on a progressive board.

50 shades of grey.

There. Now we have eight 50 shades threads.

[magical thyme]

12. another word to add to my trash can.

[maryellen99]

3. With quite a few of the deniers, doing anything about climate change is going against Gods will nt

[n2doc]

4. Fear

Deep down, they know if climate change is real they are fucked. And I think they DO know, but are living a fantasy in order to escape acknowledging that they have been a part of destroying their own environment.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. +1. a big helping of fear....and a dash of some misplaced ego!

[riderinthestorm]

8. K&R. Horrified. nt

[ChiciB1]

11. That About Sums It Up!

Pretty amazing statistics about IGNORANCE! I've met too many people who just don't want to hear about it. Then of course, certainly don't want to change ANYTHING in their life even if they think there's a possibility of it being real.

When I use aluminum foil or plastic bags I wash it out to use again, unless it's too demolished to reuse. I try to keep use to a minimum, but even if you just use alternative measures to store food, you have to use water to wash containers. I try to do what I can in the smallest of ways, but I see so many people who don't understand. Just call me cheap. I tell them why but mostly they don't get it!

[RoverSuswade]

20. Most murcan people just unconsciously throw all "trash" in the waste basket.

I help by washing my paper plates and recycling them for my cat's meals.

[pscot]

6. If we all just clap hard enough

Tinkerbell will be fine.

[Cryptoad]

7. Most Americans

don't understand the difference between Climate and Weather. A product of the "dumbing of Merica"

[Roy Serohz]

9. DUly RECommended

[RoccoR5955]

10. K & R...

People should be aware of this.
They should know that corporations are just in it for the money. I would like see them drink all their trillions when the water is so polluted that it is not potable.

We all have to remember that there is no Plan(et) B.

[randys1]

13. Teaparty not only doesnt believe, but they are furious the govt would spend one dime

working on climate change.

They are bound and determined to destroy all life on the planet because they are too stupid to admit they are wrong.

They dont have the power to do that, but they would if they could.

Between what we wont do, what China and other countries wont do, to curb climate change, the damage is inevitable and I wish i could be here to watch deniers suffer.

I would absofuckinglutely love that

[Stonepounder]

14. The uber-wealthy really don't give a damn.

They know climate change is real, but they figure that they will be just fine in the new dystopian future in their gated, walled and climate controlled communities where they will sip champagne and look down on the masses trying desperately to survive in the hellish new world. And they will have even more control over the masses and they will have even more money.

I'm awfully glad that I am old enough that I won't live to see the horrific end-game, but I worry for my grandchildren.

[Puzzledtraveller]

15. People respond to what they feel when they step outside

Today in Louisville Kentucky we are at a lovely 72 F, that is about 20 degrees lower than normal for us in late July and the rest of the week looks to be just as pleasant.

[babylonsister]

16. Supposed to be 98 here in Savannah

today and has been miserably hot all week. Pretty standard, I guess, but wicked hot!

[Puzzledtraveller]

18. It was like that here last week.

Could barely breathe when I stepped outside. We know Americans, from all walks, have notoriously short attention spans, while I know the effects of climate change are ongoing, the average citizen who is not connected into what we do feel the nice weather we are having here and think "what global warming?" I think we have a problem in communicating our message. IMO.

[Auggie]

17. One group I am sure accepts climate change and is well-prepared for it: Disaster Capitalists

[Puzzledtraveller]

19. Guaranteed.

[cantbeserious]

21. Thank You For Sharing

eom

[swilton]

22. Mass culture

promotes the notions that the world is socially just, unchangeable and rational....therefore the populations sit back and watch their TV's, play their video games or go to the movies.....The crises of social injustice and war are equally threatening to life as we know it and yet nothing is done.

[maced666]

23. There is a problem with leadership on this issue. BIG problem.

Many 'experts' over the last ten years predicted this many more tornadoes, this many more hurricanes, this many more powerful hurricanes - this temperature change in next decade, that change in temperature in next decade.
And over the last decade results made many look like fools they were so off base.
So, when 'corrected' updated predictions are made what people hear is 'The sky is falling this time for REAL because...."

Not a surprising result. When you have over 95% of the scientific world in concert over a proven truth, you could still very well have a 95% disagreement rate among those SAME 95% on specifics, time tables, etc.

This doesn't change the FACTS about man-made climate change.

But it does muddy the field for people trying to traverse the topic in a 'what do we do on a daily basis to change' kind of way. Making it worse, many 'quick fixes' are presented to the average person as - "Well, first, we have to raise taxes."
Coal tax, carbon tax, SUV tax, industrial nation tax, multiple car owner tax....

Of course this will cause skepticism! You tell people the world is ending but give the cause money and things 'might' get better.
In a nutshell, yea - this is what is happening.

The UN in a recent report tried to organize and reign in the topic but it is fighting a growing tide of people now armed. Armed with defensive tactics to higher taxes/costs. Armed with what? Videos, charts, graphs dating the recent decade of climate change awareness - that transforms respected scientists/organizations into incorrect amateur prognosticators of a difficult to chart man made phenomenon. A few are spot on, leaving the remaining lot a sizable artillery cache for deniers.
Small example:
After hurricane Katrina we were warned by Al Gore, also many in the science community, to expect this as our future. More hurricanes and more strong hurricanes - hurricanes became a gauge for the amateur climate change 'consumer'. Incorrectly so, in my opinion. Be that as it may, people were looking closer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration yearly hurricane predictions to see just if this warming or now climate change thing is real. We all know what happened since - wrong almost every year, take recently 2013 as an example:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told Americans to expect between seven and 11 hurricanes. Result? One of the quietest hurricane seasons on record.
http://www.npr.org/2013/11/29/247825778/forecast-bust-why-2013-hurricane-predictions-were-so-wrong
Ouch. To make matters worse they did an oh-correction sometime in August - and AGAIN overestimated. Fuck, at that point - whats next, after the Super Bowl you correctly 'predict' the final score?

Hurricanes should have never been a climate change gauge in the first place, which goes to point - leadership problem. Al Gore is a great soldier in the climate change battle, maybe the best. But his awareness success does not transfer over to solution/leadership.
Answer? I don't know! The UN report this summer was a good start, I think.

What I believe is we are still in the early stages of a crisis that extends before during and well after our time here. I do believe we will eventually get to a consensus under a cohesive leadership. Just not in your or my lifetimes.

For now, I'd start with small things. Do educate/promote awareness on a public level. Conserve on a personal level.
The doomsday predictions followed by a required tax collection plate - look. Many weekend religion buses have that formula down pat but will tell you the success rate is less than 1%. Doesn't matter you are right and deniers are fools - truth does not matter. The formula is simply wrong.
Meanwhile I'll lead by example, on a personal level. Knowing the solution is likely outside any generation living today. Most of it today is just white noise of early stages, no sense in losing sleep over a deniers ignorance. Have to start somewhere, sure, this is where I start.

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.

[alterfurz]

25. "We'll keep doing what we do until we can't...

...and then we won't." -- James Kunstler