Global Warming? Who Cares?

While we're on the subject, the Gallup organization seems to have discovered something interesting:

Only one in three predict global warming will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes.

Contrary to what one might expect, Gallup found that while public concern is higher than in 2004, they are "no higher than it has been at several points in the past." In fact, Americans are more worried about water pollution, air pollution, and toxic waste than global warming.

For Wonker, at least, this poll result is actually quite gratifying. As I've taken pains to point out, "global warming" is a political stalking horse. The "science" of it has yet to be proven, no matter how many people might decry this observation. But what I also said was that pollution itself was a worthier matter of attention. And judging from the results above, most Americans would seem to agree.

This doesn't keep the usual intellectuals from carrying on, as a piece in Editor & Publisher points out, noting that

...warnings about global warming reach[ed] a fever pitch in recent weeks--Vanity Fair is about to come out with a story featuring George Clooney and Julia Roberts on its cover...

The looney birds just keep flapping their wings and screeching. But the average commonsensical American seems to be tuning them out. Good for them.