Update: Reality Check

Despite rising prices for just about everything we actually need and the threat of a recession in the air, Americans continue to favor protecting the environment even at the risk of curbing economic growth, reports in a new Gallup Poll, conducted March 6-9. Here's a quick summary:

- Nearly half of American believe protection of the environment should be given priority even at the risk of curbing economic growth.

- 50% of Americans say protection of the environment should be given priority even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies such as oil, gas, and coal that the United States produces.

- 95% of Americans believe the current U.S. energy situation is very (46%) or fairly serious (49%).

- 62% think the United States is likely to face a critical energy shortage during the next five years.

- By a margin of 61% to 29%, Americans favor emphasizing more consumer conservation of existing energy supplies, rather than emphasizing the production of more oil, gas, and coal supplies.

Of particular note for us:

- Most people are worried and concerned about the environment and energy depletion

- But the percentages of folks favoring these positions has dropped since prior polls, indicating that more people are worried about the econom

This means:

- Many people are not yet making the crucial connection between our economic problems and the effects of perpetual growth on the environment.

- The American public is growing more divided in our posistion toward these issues, making effective and timely decisions by national leaders less likely.

For the details of this poll see Gallop's full report.