We know that 47 percent of voters supported Donald Trump and, by virtue of our Electoral College system, he was duly elected president. But that doesn’t tell you a lot about what the American people think about specific issues.
Does it mean, for instance, that they want to dismantle our system of environmental protection or go backwards on climate change?
Common sense says that Trump voters don’t want dirty air and water or more asthma attacks for their kids, and a look at the recent polling tells what Americans really value on these issues. After Tuesday, I wouldn’t rely on polls if the spread is close – I think we’ve learned that – but when it comes to climate and clean energy issues, we see significant margins.
Broad support for climate and clean energy action
Let’s start in the ultimate battleground state of Florida. An Election Day exit poll from NBC News said that 66 percent of Florida voters consider climate change to be a severe problem.
Prior to the election, one survey found that 68 percent of voters favor the federal government “taking steps to reduce emissions of gases like carbon dioxide that cause global climate change.”
That’s a strong endorsement for limiting the pollution that causes climate change. Clearly, Trump voters were not offering a mandate for going backwards on the progress we’ve made.
That level of support isn’t new. A University of Texas poll showed that two-thirds of Americans want reducing carbon pollution to be a priority. That obviously includes a lot of Trump voters.
This year, in fact, concern about climate change reached an eight-year high, according to Gallup.
The problem, of course, is that not only has Trump made no proposals to reduce climate pollution; he’s said he’s “not a big believer” in global warming. He’s even promised to try to kill the biggest step America’s ever taken to limit dangerous carbon pollution, the Clean Power Plan.
Far from ‘draining the swamp’ as he promised during the campaign, he’s polluting it.
Trump already seems to be moving to install industry lobbyists in key positions to get this done.
He’s appointed Myron Ebell to run his environmental transition team, an outspoken climate denier and former tobacco industry lobbyist who makes his living as, essentially, a PR man for the oil and coal industry. (Trump is also reportedly considering Wall Street insiders to oversee Wall Street.)
In other words, far from “draining the swamp” as he promised during the campaign, he’s poisoning it.
We can still make our voices heard
So what happens when the people overwhelmingly want to cut pollution and elected officials promise the opposite? Well, that depends on us.
If we’re willing to make our voices heard and tell Congress we want clean energy and clean air, we have a chance to stop these dangerous plans.
My dad always said, "Don't complain without a solution." Now, I voted for the conservative...GOP candidate, but actually for the basic platform of changes. However, I agree with a lot what you are saying here. And it’s going to take a lot of money, jobs and effort to create these changes.
I'm probably one of the most conservative liberals out there, but the word "conserve" itself is what it's all about. Liberals act like they all about conserving the environment [but] I am all about coming up with solutions, [rather than] just complaining.
My son, a bio-systems engineer from Clemson, has his heart and mind set on helping create renewable energy. He is disheartened by the election, but I encourage him to pursue his dream [without] basing it on government support.
We all need to turn to private industry and self-reliance to manage and solve problems and stop leaning on the backs of taxpayers and government miss-management.
We have to stop whining and present realistic valid solutions to the political elite to help create support for development of the methods, machines, products and system management to help improve and preserve the environment.
I may be 71, but I've still got reasons to live another 30 years. Hey, nobody wants to drink ditch water or suck in smog!
Thanks guys. Trudge on, tote the load – together – and we'll make it over the ridge.
Del Mills
November 12, 2016 at 1:29 pm