Americans Finally Admitting To The Existence Of Man-Made Global Warming

The people of the United States have been the hardest to convince of global climate change (commonly called global warming). They first denied that the Earth was warming at all, but the increasing weather anomalies seem to have convinced them it is true. Last April, I posted about a survey that shows a significant majority of the public now believes global climate change is happening. But that poll did not ask people what was causing the change -- and people will not support government action until they believe the change is at least partially a man-made thing.

Now there is a new survey commissioned by the Washington Post and Stanford University. The Washington Post Stanford University Poll (taken between June 13th and June 21st of 2012) is important because it shows that not only are Americans now accepting the existence of global warming, but they are also accepting that this phenomena is at least partially man-made -- and they are starting to accept the need for government action to control it (although they would prefer it be done with tax breaks rather than outright prohibitions).

That is good news. Unfortunately, this new attitude doesn't seem to have penetrated the political posturing of many of our politicians. Far too many of them have sold their souls to the corporations polluting the planet (or the corporations making the polluting products). They have accepted millions in campaign contributions, and are unwilling to act to require anything from those corporations.

And the politicians (especially the Republicans and blue dog Democrats) are not likely to change until the public demands they do. That won't be this year though, since the coming election will be decided on the economy and jobs -- and nothing else. It looks like the weather will have to get even worse or the economy get much better, before anything will truly be done. Let's just hope we have time for that (before reaching the tipping point).

Here are some of the poll's questions and answers:

DO YOU THINK THE WORLD'S TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN RISING OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS?
Yes...............73%
No...............25%
Don't know...............2%

WAS THE RISE IN TEMPERATURE CAUSED BY PEOPLE'S ACTIONS, NATURAL CAUSES, OR BOTH?
People's actions...............30%
Natural causes...............22%
Both equally...............47%
Don't know...............1%

Believe people are partially/wholly responsible...............77%

IF NOTHING IS DONE WILL THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUE TO RISE OVER THE NEXT 100 YEARS?
Yes...............72%
No...............24%
Don't know...............4%

IF NOTHING IS DONE TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING, HOW SERIOUS WILL THE CONSEQUENCES BE FOR THE U.S.?
Very/somewhat serious...............78%
Not very/at all serious...............20%
Don't know...............2%

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING?
Great deal/quite a bit...............55%
Some/a little...............34%
Nothing...............10%
Don't know...............1%

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GASES PUT OUT BY AMERICAN BUSINESSES?
Yes...............77%
No...............20%
Don't know...............3%

WOULD THE THINGS REQUIRED TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER OR WORSE?
Better...............43%
Neither better or worse...............43%
Worse...............12%
Don't know...............1%

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE ACTION. . .
Only if other countries do...............14%
Even if other countries do less...............65%
Not take any action at all...............19%
Don't know...............1%

HOW MUCH GOVERNMENT ACTION DOES OBAMA WANT ON GLOBAL WARMING?
Great deal/quite a bit...............44%
Some/a little...............42%
None...............6%
Don't know...............8%

HOW MUCH GOVERNMENT ACTION DOES ROMNEY WANT ON GLOBAL WARMING?
Great deal/quite a bit...............11%
Some/a little...............61%
None...............15%
Don't know...............14%