11:374:279 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: The Chronic, Environmentalism
30 Dec 2019
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Document Summary
Today, most americans accept environmental protection as a legitimate cause for individuals, corporations, and governments alike, and the significance of that evolution in attitudes should not be underestimated. We no longer debate whether to protect the environment, but where, when, how, under what conditions, and at what expense. Americans tend to view environmental issues in complex ways not easily explained using vague and imprecise language. While public concern for the environment is strikingly high, it is neither strong nor salient. Americans place genuine value and priority on environmental quality, to be sure, but they also support lowering crime rates, improving public education, and maintaining a strong economy, all of which easily surpass the environment in polls. Data suggests that voters and taxpayers are sensitive when it comes to the costs associated with protective environmental policies. While environmental concern is widespread, behavior is not. Members of the public oftentimes fail to take relatively simple and inexpensive steps towards environmental action.
