Why Climate Change Deniers Can’t Handle The Truth
With so much evidence and overwhelming consensus by scientists that Climate Change is real, it’s natural to wonder who still denies it and why. In a fascinating review of polling evidence we see that it’s probably who you expect it is but perhaps not for the reasons you think.
So why do these Americans refuse to budge on the issue? In a provocative article earlier this year, Chris Mooney suggested a simple answer: “Conservatives don’t deny climate science because they’re ignorant. They deny it because of who they are.”
So the stunning reason some people reject the idea of Climate Change is not because they don’t have the facts. They do. It’s just that they don’t want to believe the evidence because being “a Conservative” or in some cases being “a Christian” means that they simply can’t believe it. It’s not who they are. It’s not what they believe. Evidence aside, their self-identification more or less forbids them from accepting the science on this topic.
Click here for reuse options!It’s fairly clear from these graphs that religious, Republican American conservatives are the majority of climate change deniers today. If income, education, and knowledge has little to do with climate change acceptance, then could it be that climate change acceptance has become a cultural rather than factual issue in America? Do conservative Americans deny climate change simply because it conflicts with their identity as a conservative?
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Mark Quincy Adams
A proud 'pragmatic progressive' Mark Quincy Adams has been a political
talk show host and prolific pontificator since 1992. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @politicalglutton
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Gindy51 October 6th, 2014 at 07:33
Yes they do, because to change their life style would mean change and conservatives are opposed to any sort of change (progression). R means reverse….
The silly thing is that they don’t realize that the earth doesn’t need them but they need the earth. There isn’t any other place for our species to live. Earth will adapt and evolve but we will not, hence we will succumb to the same things that killed off every other major species on the planet. The main difference is we will have caused this one ourselves.
fjones71 October 6th, 2014 at 09:58
The answer to why we have Global Warming deniers is simple: Global warming would bring more federal regulation and probably taxes to the US economy. The powers in the American business world hate this, therefore they spend Billions of dollars to discredit the entire argument. In fact, the global warming issue would probably come down to an international set of regulations, this causes conservatives heads to just blow up on the spot. The mere thought of any international set of rules in which the USA would have to follow equates to an Apoplectic end of time. There is no denying the science behind Global Warming. Pundits and political hacks that deny the science for global warming have no business questioning science. Just like a doctor who prescribes you a treatment for your sickness, you don’t deny your doctors advice. You may get a second or third opinion, by after checking with 100 doctors and you get a 97% consensuses on your issue, you tend to think your doctors opinion is correct.
raincheck October 6th, 2014 at 10:36
WELL SAID!!
mea_mark October 6th, 2014 at 10:51
I think one word should be changed.
“In fact, the global warming issue would[will] probably come down to an international set of regulations,” — It’s just a matter of time and how many disasters we are willing to suffer through before it happens.
fjones71 October 6th, 2014 at 09:58
The answer to why we have Global Warming deniers is simple: Global warming would bring more federal regulation and probably taxes to the US economy. The powers in the American business world hate this, therefore they spend Billions of dollars to discredit the entire argument. In fact, the global warming issue would probably come down to an international set of regulations, this causes conservatives heads to just blow up on the spot. The mere thought of any international set of rules in which the USA would have to follow equates to an Apoplectic end of time. There is no denying the science behind Global Warming. Pundits and political hacks that deny the science for global warming have no business questioning science. Just like a doctor who prescribes you a treatment for your sickness, you don’t deny your doctors advice. You may get a second or third opinion, by after checking with 100 doctors and you get a 97% consensuses on your issue, you tend to think your doctors opinion is correct.
raincheck October 6th, 2014 at 10:36
WELL SAID!!
mea_mark October 6th, 2014 at 10:51
I think one word should be changed.
“In fact, the global warming issue would[will] probably come down to an international set of regulations,” — It’s just a matter of time and how many disasters we are willing to suffer through before it happens.
kathy_lowen July 1st, 2015 at 17:17
I also like the other Sinclair (Lewis) and his observation that, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”