Generation X ambivalent about climate change, study shows
A new study by a University of Michigan professor shows Americans between the ages of 32 and 52 - a group referred to as Generation X - have said they don’t really care when it comes to matters of climate change and the environment.
Jon D. Miller directs the Longitudinal Study of American Youth at the U-M Institute for Social Research and released a quarterly report this week. The research has been funded by the National Science Foundation since 1986.
Jon Miller
When polled on issues like use of fossil fuels, the state of global warming and alternative energy sources, Generation X-ers responded with middle-of-the-road answers that showed they neither strongly agreed nor strongly disagreed.
Out of the 2,924 people that responded, 41 percent said they were “disengaged” when it came to matters of climate change. Ten percent of them said they were dismissive or doubtful about the climate issue as a whole.
In the text of the report, Miller calls the statistic “interesting and unexpected,” as two out of three adults have either rejected the seriousness of matters surrounding climate change or chosen to ignore them completely.
“Generation X is the most scientifically literate and best educated generation in American history …” Miller wrote in the report.
From 2009 to 2011, there has been a slight change amongst respondents that shows a decrease in the level of scrutiny with which people follow climate change issues.
Most consider themselves moderately informed and less well informed. The results of the report suggest most adults don’t view climate change matters as ones that need to be addressed immediately, like finding jobs or caring for their family.
“These results are not comforting to those of us who worry about the health of American democracy in the 21st century,” Miller wrote in the report.
- Read the entirety of the report here: GenerationX_Report.pdf
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
JimB
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
Gen X is 1. trying to find a job 2. trying to keep their home from being foreclosed by the bank or whomever holds the mortgage 3. figure out how to keep the financial obligations to the previous generations. Maybe global warming is last on their list. At least it made their list, unlike previous generations who could have had a greater impact on this subject many many many years ago.
outdoor6709
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:02 a.m.
Maybe gen X has learned that the politicians are less than honest about the issue. See article from UK Mail, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2171973/Tree-ring-study-proves-climate-WARMER-Roman-Medieval-times-modern-industrial-age.html#ixzz20LfvKaOr Or maybe read the interview with the author of the theory, http://studio4llc.com/nature-journal-of-science-discredits-man-made-global-warming/ or maybe http://pjmedia.com/eddriscoll/2012/06/24/the-godfather-of-global-warming-has-second-thoughts/ Although I would not want to ruin your fun with facts.
SEC Fan
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:32 a.m.
My guess is they didn't understand the question...
mike gatti
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
More proof that my generation are bigger idiots than the baby boomers.
martini man
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
Generation X doesn't care about the climate change crap ??? Probably about the only thing they have done that makes any sense. Go X !!! I guess even Gen X doesn't want higher taxes and less freedom . Duh !!! Looks like the enviro-wacks will have to try another approach.
shepard145
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
The true damage caused when this Eco Fraud is dispersed in the classroom. Children are not told of the amazing AMERICAN DREAM promised by the greatest economy in the history of the world, but of AMERICAN DECLINE. They are told their only hope will be the socialist democrat political machine waiting with free stuff to hand out, rescuing them form their failure and the failure of the United States. No gleaming future cities, no colonies on the moon or mission to Mars, no flying cars – only oppression, guilt and pollution. They are told to use less, live less and buy less…your survival is in doubt. THIS is what your generation teaches children: a heavy, thick, hot wet blanket smothering THEIR American Dream on a platform of eco ignorance, lies and manipulation. ...all in hopes they vote for the next socialist some day.
shepard145
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 2:01 a.m.
Um, the AMERICAN DREAM is the universal expression of America's future, the best of which is to be continously passed to the nations children so when ready, they take their place and contribute their God Given Talents to the most powerful nation on earth and only remaining super power. It is this give that the human controlled global weather fraud corrupts. I could not possibly care less what your "american dream" is or, more likely, is not.
Robert Hughes
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:04 a.m.
Um. your American Dream, isn't mine. Don't tell me what my American Dream is, nor speak for the masses.
Joe ThePimpernel
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
Maybe that's because they know they've been lied to. Global temperatures have been declining for 2000 years when you don't use the fraudulent data used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Tree Ring Data Scandal http://cfact.eu/2009/10/03/the-false-tree-ring-data-scandal/ New tree ring study shows 2000 years of cooling http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/09/this-is-what-global-cooling-really-looks-like/ Extreme weather is an integral part of the Earth's climate http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/10/extreme-weather-is-an-integral-part-of-the-earths-climate/ Ya think?
shepard145
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:04 p.m.
Just googled up a bunch of "science" on that cutting edge scientific resource known as "Yahoo news", did we? LOL Hardly "debunked". Did you even read it? Yahoo "news" blindly lifted this drivel from an eco crazed web site that features headlines like: "Caffeine Pollution Found in Oregon Coast Waters!!" This is just one more agenda driven eco hysterical bunch of nonsense that follows the path of: if the evidence does not fit the narrative, FUGDE IT. Here, we see that the tree ring data did not follow Al Gore's eco rule book, so they admint they just changed the criterial from "tree ring width" to "tree ring density"!! ...of course that dumps Al's entire eco business model, movie and the Global Warming fraud into the trash can but that's apparently fine. LOL ...no thinking required! We live in a scientific dark age where the narrative is cast by the eco fashists lining their pockets with eco cash and than phony "research" is ham fisted into what ever is necessary to keep FRAUD ALIVE and the cash filling their eco pockets.
Robert Hughes
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
As regards your "extreme weather" argument, scientists say that's exacerbated by global warming. You can read more about that here: http://www.skepticalscience.com/extreme-weather-global-warming.htm
Robert Hughes
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 11:09 p.m.
The article you mention about the "Tree Ring Data Scandal" is debunked here: http://news.yahoo.com/does-tree-ring-study-put-chill-global-warming-170718316.html
shepard145
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 6:17 p.m.
Great post!
A Voice of Reason
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
Well, maybe a better question would have been, "Do you agree or disagree that surveys conducted by ISR and the National Science Foundation are being used to push a certain agenda and should be halted? Sorry, that was two questions in one. The fact that you said..."These results are not comforting to those who worry about the health of American Democracy in the 21st Century" indicates that you brilliant ISR scientists have an agenda and desired outcome. Next time, just write better questions to get the result that you would like. You did quote that generation X is the most scientifically educated group, so maybe the science around global warming, the money grabbing for carbon credits, the Al Gore's lifestyle of energy gluttony and his business interest in global warming movement make the entire effort not credible. Go fool the kids....you can see the impact of environmental agenda there. Let's be a little more objective next time in your opinions about the failure of American democracy when this actually democracy at its finest. That is what happens when you education the American public.
a2trader
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
I'd have to agree with amlive that this finding probably reflects more of the immediate priorities of Gen X folks - raising kids, paying for a house, getting on a solid career track. If you would compare the percentages of those who Strongly Agreed, Agreed, etc, on other macro issues like the national debt, human rights in third world countries, I would bet you'd get the exact same distribution as this study found for climate change. How this relates to the health of American democracy is truly a stretch.
Mike
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:07 a.m.
"Global Warming Science" is a self reinforcing fraud driven by funding and peer review. In fact, the essence of the fraud mirrors quite exactly the flaw in the computational models. Generation X gets it. Everyone knows academia is a hive of erroneous disconnect. Of course Gen-X has disdain for Al Gore and all his globe trotting fellow travelers.
mohomed
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.
I wonder how much this UM teacher spent to do this worthless study. I'm sure he make well over $100,000 year to get this "important" qualitative data. Global warming my man is such a fraud. We do need to take care of the earth though and not pollute but the same people with preachy global warming bumper stickers and COEXIST one's on their Honda Civics are the same people who though their cigarettes and trash out the window of the "environment saver" car. It's amazing how people bad mouth other's if they don't jump on the band wagon with their "truth" and their INTERPRETATION of almighty "science".
Laura
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.
I'd be interested to know how many Gen Xers are actually contributing to global protection by recycling and going greener in general. Most of my Gen X friends recycle, conserve electricity, etc. without batting an eye. They teach their children to do the same. Perhaps they are not as conscious of their own efforts and do it without thinking about it. "Disengaged?" That's a little vague.
shepard145
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Please explain how you think you and your friends "conserving electricity" or recycling their applesauce jars and newspaper makes the planet colder. LOL While there is certainly nothing wrong with being efficient, the claim that the planet is being saved is nonsense. Live your life and enjoy it - for get the notion that the planet needs saving.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be misapplied, and which, therefore, more needs elucidation, than the current one, that the interest of the majority is the political standard of right and wrong. – James Madison
Sdsd Asdfasf
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
Generation X is more skeptical, less likely to drink Kool Aid, and knows that just because people are in authority, doesn't make them right, good, or that they have our best interests in mind. And since man-made global warming is a hoax with no convincing evidence, they rightly refuse to buy into group-think. And to the previous poster who said that Global Warming is a LEFTIST hoax, it's not leftist. The engineers behind the hoax are the Rothschilds and their ilk who seek to make money off it by convincing people throughout the globe to pay a tax on all energy use...monies that will fund global governance under their control, as well as create a whole new phony value, the carbon credit trading scheme, that they can trade and make profits on. It's the richest on our planet who fund the leftist movements, the same way they supported Karl Marx while he wrote his junk, and the same way they funded the communist take over of Russia by a small ethnic minority.
Tom Todd
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
Generation x is getting way less in terms of healthcare,social security,pension,housing costs,food costs,education cost we are buying the kool-aid since we are involved in gaining the riches anymore since CEO's need a thousand times the wage of the minions instead of hundreds.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:57 p.m.
Obviously: your are a scientific, philosophic and political GENUS and we should all hang on your every (totally unfounded and misguided) pronouncement. But, um, I think most of us may choose to go "misguidedly" off to follow... actual scientists. LOL! BUT WATCH OUT!-- there may be Rothchilds hiding (lurking) under your bed!! YOU'D BETTER GO CHECK - while the rest of us proceed with making actual human progress. ;-) Odd, why does the phrase "funny little dupe" keep running through my head? Just coincidence?
amlive
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
Given that this age group tends to have a lot of other immediate concerns to worry about (jobs, families, etc), I'm not too surprised about the 41% ambivalent number. The 10 denial group isn't terribly bad, and I'm not clear from the article how the other 49% responded (sorry, haven't read the actual report yet). As usual however, some of the comments here are absolutely jaw dropping.
MRunner73
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
If you take the study at face value, then it is good to see that this is not THE most passionately debated topic. It shouldn't be. The field of Atmospheric Science is just now hitting it's stride thanks to the vast power of computer technology. Many of the global weather observations are now in excel files and other readily available technologies. This provides instant analysis and research. There have been significant changes in how weather observations are taken, the density of the network as well as a more urbanization of the network itself over the past several decades. This has had an impact to the results of what the data is telling us. There is global satellite thermal sensing that encompasses open areas including the oceans so that set data has significantly different results. Anybody is entitled to their own opinion but when one really investigates this topic, the results can lead one to a different path or conclusion. It is good the see and read both sides to this, rather passionate debate. This comment is intended to be neutral on the subject and address the topic of the article.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
Some are more then happy to risk future generations of the US economy on this Fraud, but I'll pass. You go get your eco fix by econmically hugging a tree and we'll remain solvent by letting the Comunist Chinese keep their trillions.
amlive
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
"If you take the study at face value, then it is good to see that this is not THE most passionately debated topic. It shouldn't be." I guess the trillion(s) dollar question may be, when we skip ahead 30 years wI'll we find ourselves saying "it should've been"?
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
SCIENCE: it not a democratic methodology! Whatever "Generation X" is thinking and deciding, no random group of Homo Semi-Sapiens should determine what is done about scientifically derived FACTS. That our future and fate is dependent on the "democratic method" (majority vote rules): is actually the biggest reason we face so many problems (which get worse every time public opinion is accepted as the determinate factor). "Generation X is the most scientifically literate and best educated generation in American history …" That's not to say (or prove) that the average member of that age group is an expert with actual experience in the scientific area in question. When someone assumes they're "better informed" that just makes them unsuspecting and when they're unsuspecting, they're more vulnerable to which ever political faction is doing the best job of deception via propaganda. And we KNOW who the leading political faction in propaganda is these days. When actual experts (people with degrees in climatology and meteorological science) ARE POLLED, they come to a radically different conclusion about global warming theory. Let ISR query those people and tell us what the experts say. We need no input from "Generation X" or any other part of the Peanut Gallery. So the Longitudinal Study of American Youth at ISR has put forth a wrongful conclusion and is sharing it with us out of misguided purpose. ISR groups have come out with some really valuable research results: but this time "not so much."
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 6:12 p.m.
yEAAAA...Except that fake science polls are great for joke writing for the next nerd convention in Vegas but will never take the place of actual research. ....but nice try - good luck keeping the Global Warming Fraud alive.
G. Orwell
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
"A new study by a University of Michigan professor shows Americans between the ages of 32 and 52 - a group referred to as Generation X - have said they don't really care when it comes to matters of climate change and the environment." Earth's climate has always changed so climate change is just part of nature. People should be concerned about real environmental issues like nuclear, GMOs, fracking, corporate waste dumping, etc. Not CO2. CO2 has nothing or absolute minimal effect on global temperature and climate change. Just another tax scam.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.
So you not only believe that CO2 controls the earth's temperature but humans cause 100 times that of the rest of the planet combined? LOL Astonishingly wrong on every count. ...as is the notion that the CO2 from the planet's volcanoes has been measured as a constant!! Do you believe that inlcudes under sea volcanos!? LOL In fact, there is SO MUCH WRONG with your latest google-blurb that all we can do is chuckle. …but keep trying!
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
Climate change is just part of nature: BUT the proven, measured increase in CO2 from human sources is greater by a factor of 100 than the input of CO2 from the next-most greatest source (volcanism). So "nature" is contributing a FRACTION of the measured CO2 and we cannot at this time control that. But we CAN control what humans do and THAT IS THE POINT you are either missing or side-stepping so passionately. One has to ask: what are you gaining from your stance derived from jumbled thinking? Or maybe we should be asking what THE REST OF US LOSE when it turns out you're wrong! Personally, I'm not going to stake my future or the future of Mankind on YOUR SAY SO.
Jen
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
I normally don't care to nitpick A2.com stories and truly appreciate the local reporting, but this headline is driving me nuts. "Ambivalent," not "ambiguous."
arborani
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Please God, somebody fix that headline, and then somebody explain to somebody WHY.
YpsiGreen
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:54 a.m.
Seriously.
Seasoned Cit
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Interesting how the researcher's bias comes thru and he's a bit upset that the results of his study didn't agree with his thinking. NIce to see that he didn't tweak the data to fit his belief that climate change is made-made like other so called scientists have done.
a2citizen
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
All those who believe in climate change please power off your computer... ...............................signing off.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
Layered on top of this FRAUD are is a list of unrelated ECONOMY KILLING democrat socialist causes oil independence (from a global commodity?), shut down of inexpensive power generation plants, push nonsensical recycling and of course the great green energy fraud. Pour hundreds of billions of borrowed Communist Chinese dollars into bankrupt phony energy schemes. All layered onto the rotten foundation of the American Consumer Controlled Global Warming Fraud (ACCGWG). While the naïve UM teacher is surprised how many people know Global Warming is a FRAUD, people need to take the next step. Vote out every politician who supports those JOB AND ECONOMY KILLING LIES, then go to battle with the schools and scrub this eco fraud from the classroom. The true damage caused when this Eco Fraud is dispersed in the classroom. Children are not told of the amazing AMERICAN DREAM promised by the greatest economy in the history of the world, but of AMERICAN DECLINE. They are told America is declining but the democrat political machine will be there to rescue them. No gleaming future cities, no moon colonies, no flying cars – only oppression, guilt, pollution, use less, live less, buy less…your survival is in doubt. THIS is what your generation teaches children - a heavy, thick, hot wet blanket smothering THEIR American Dream on a platform of eco ignorance, lies and manipulation. ...all in hopes they vote for the next socialist some day. Beyond disgusting.
shepard145
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 6:24 p.m.
Oh good one! ..certainly leftist socialist democrat cranks could never tolerate the number one cable news network for the last 14 years attempting to present a balanced news report based on facts and reality. NO DEMOCRAT SOCIALIST NETWORKS - CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC or CBS could EVER tolerate BALANCE. They will NEVER feature two experts with balanced viewpoints on ANY TOPIC because the liberals always get CRUSHED when faced with rational opposition. They run away and hide because their ignorant viewpoints cannot be defended. ....which is why the Romney obama debates will be great fun.
Tom Todd
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
faux news tell you this,just wait bain capital will want another hundred million somewhere and there goes more jobs lost.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
Eco hysterics block authentic research and substitute "science worker polling" because they have no choice – the science of consumer planet weather control is a laughing stock. Believe whatever you like – love the Betsy Ross avatar – but anyone can see that this dark age of science fraud has been leveraged by corrupt political hacks to create ECONOMY KILLING energy and economic policy. Few have not been educated to understand the real issues or what's at stake – we get that. What do you think an "Environmental Scientist" is? Do you think they are capable of any action that does not constitute one more attempt to prop up the Human Controlled Global Warming Fraud (HCGWF)? Who fills their pockets with taxpayer grant money? "…..environmental scientists SAY NOTHING about any "required" cut-back in the quality of life of the average person…." You are hilariously naïve – . Just keep working faster to supply the cash to feed your beloved government and all the massive economy killing price increases and taxes they cause and all will be fine. …everything is just fine! LOL
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 6:42 p.m.
Congrats: you've just COMPLETELY FALSIFIED the premise behind environmentalist thinking. You also COMPLETELY FALSIFIED the remarks about and conclusions drawn from the ISR study. The study IS flawed but the error lies entirely in giving credence and meaning to "what Generation thinks." You're a stranger making politically-based ALLEGATIONS. Your "word" is worth nothing- and I for one don't believe any of what you've publicly stated. Just FYI: environmental scientists SAY NOTHING about any "required" cut-back in the quality of life of the average person. Re-working technology and re-thinking OBVIOUSLY WASTEFUL PRACTICES isn't proof of "evil" - instead it indicates reasonable, rational thinking.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:19 p.m.
Amusing to see all the Global Warming short hand John uses to confuse people about this subject! When the already lame, biased and corrupt science is exposed, they want to talk about "scientific polling" or "the debate is over". What debate? We all agree that the earth's climate has never been constant. The claim that "evidence" collected from ice core bubbles, in the presence of liquid water, has determined that the earth's temperature is controlled by CO2 a LIE, yet the entire argument depends on it as fact. When that single claim falls over again (it was ruled nonsense in the mid 80's), the entire connection between climate and human activity VANISHES in one big plop. …yet "the debate is over"!? ….even THE FACT that those arctic ice core "air samples" vary from actual historic measurement by over 600% - no problem – they hammer it into a "factoid" mandating GREEN ENERGY and trillions of Communist Chinese dollars be borrowed by generations of Americans! Then even if you agree with the CO2 lie, you are next told that the decisions you make every day vary the amount of CO2 on earth so therefore YOU, THE AMERICAN CONSUMER, make the earth hotter. …we are still NOT TO THE REAL POINT YET - keep going. Making the earth hotter is irreverent without CONTROL. National Energy Policy burped out of the pelosi obama democrat party is based on their claim that if you buy something different tomorrow (toast your english muffin with solar power) then you do today, THE EARTH WILL GET COLDER. CONTROL. YOUR Consumer activity EVERY DAY makes the EARTH HOTTER OR COLDER. The GRAND GLOBAL WARMING FRAUD CLAIMS THAT You CONTROL THE EARTH'S WEATHER!! If that sounds stupid – that's because it is. Yet obama's EPA has written thousands of pages of JOB KILLING, ECONOMY KILLING regulations because they think it's true. VOTE THEM OUT!! ..and UM is disappointed that THEY are the laughing stock of this generation?
shepard145
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
Of course climate change is a fact. The earth is 2.5 billion years old and has been changing constantly, including an unknown number of ice ages, the last of which peaked about 20,000 years ago with 1/3 of the planet covered with ice up to a mile thick. There is no option for the earth to remain a constant anything…certainly not because we're here now and would prefer it. What many of tribe "stupid" - those educated by public schools and the corrupt leftist media are incapable of understanding is that because the climate is changing, and even if "effected" in some miniscule barely measurable way by human activity, does not and will NEVER mean that American consumers control it. The "belief" in the Human Controlled Global Weather Fraud (HCGWF) is below religion and beyond STUPID.
antistupid
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
Climate change is a fact. It's not a theory. And to suggest that it is impossible that it is affected by human activity affected is stupid.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
Pease, feel free to sight proof that using expensive green energy to toast your English muffin changes the planet's weather – should be a fun read. You would be in unimpressive company taking it on faith - Granholm "believed" it when joining with the House and inflicting the "green energy" fraud on Michigan. The present CO2 MEASURING capabilities are irrelevant to the point without context. A satellite or other means now tracking this year's data cannot be used to create a meaningful collation to HCGWF, so undeterred, whatever is recorded is FUDGED into some nonsensical eco hysterical conclusion by science workers paid to support those who pay them. By killing off any attempts to apply the scientific method, a generation of FAKE SCIENCE has been used to create FAKE ENERGY POLICY.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
Based on the historic Betsy Ross avatar, you must know more then I do about the HCGWF (human controlled global warming fraud). I do appreciate the swing at the great CO2 lie though. But please, feel free to sight proof that using expensive green energy to toast your English muffin changes the planet's weather – should be a fun read. You would be in unimpressive company with former economy killing Granholm, who also "believed" the fantasy when joining with the House and inflicting the "green energy" fraud on Michigan. The ice cores were used in a failed attempt to create a claim that CO2 levels control the earth's temperatue. While it failed, it was still judged "close enough" for those stuffing their pockets with money as they screamed the debate is over!". Present CO2 MEASURING capabilities are irrelevant to the point without context. A satellite or other means tracking this year's data cannot be used to create a meaningful collation to HCGWF, so undeterred, whatever is recorded is FUDGED into some nonsensical eco hysterical conclusion by science workers paid to fraud alive. By killing off any attempts to apply the scientific method, a generation of FAKE SCIENCE has been used to create FAKE ENERGY POLICY and KILL REAL JOBS AND ECONOMIES.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
Selective facts - is an unconvincing methodology. Whatever the ice core air sampling proved or didn't prove: the PRESENT method of measuring CO2 content in the atmosphere shows we're at about 400 ppm of COS. And 50 years ago, it was much lower! So there's one certifiable fact you can't dispute. And yet you EXPECT us to accept your random, politically based OPINION??!! ROLF!!
Jack Campbell
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
Shepard thank for once again regurgitating GOP talking points. SCIENCE SHOULDN'T BE POLITICAL FOLLOW THE FACTS!!!!!
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my iphone and my Facebook and my American Idol and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone
Fordie
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.
ChrisW, A) That's a result of modern medicine. B) The US is 38th in the world in life expectancy - not a great way to measure ourselves.
Tom Todd
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
depends on where you live and work
ChrisW
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
If the air and food are unfit, why is life expectancy at an all-time high?
Soothslayer
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
You can't comprehend what you don't understand. The public education system has failed GenX and all other generations as well to their own peril. Science, what's that??
bunnyabbot
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
"as two out of three adults have either rejected the seriousness of matters surrounding climate change or chosen to ignore them completely" Well I fall into the Gen X as someone born in the mid 70s. I don't believe in radical leftest "climate change" It's encouraging to see that maybe others of my generation aren't buying into it either. I do live reduce, reuse, recycle. Not as some governmental idea pushed on by some "green" group or some acedemics theory. But because I believe in personal responsiblity to not be wasteful, whether that is using a refillable water bottle, donating clothes and furniture or repurposing something and as a final just recycling it by throwing it in a container knowing that about of items have post consumer uses. I don't waste gas in the car because I had to buy it and don't like parting with my money if I don't have to. I believe in the proverb, Waste not want not.
aaisaplus
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
Well, I also fall into the Gen X age group, and I firmly believe in the science behind "climate change". If I had to choose between someone who believes in CC but doesn't actually do much to help, and someone like you who considers my beliefs "radical" but yet lives responsibly as you describe, I'd pick you every time. I've heard it's a GenX thing, but I share with my friends a lot of skepticism toward organized-think. I believe the theory of climate change has produced enough evidence to warrant consideration in my life to live even more responsibly, and hope others do as well. But my belief is not enough that I would blindly obey the directives of any group without reviewing it on my own. I've seen enough "best practices" that end up being head-scratchers. But I do think we as a society would benefit from more individuals and businesses "reduce, reuse, recycle". I'd like to see new technologies and energy sources developed that are a win-win for both the environment and business, but I'm also skeptical when the groups representing either of those interests resort to high-drama to "win" – its seems some people are more concerned with others losing. Wanting both our businesses and our environment to succeed doesn't have to be mutually exclusive.
antistupid
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
Right, like all of those people who "bought into" the earth being round. Capitalistic Christian proverbs do not make you a thoughtful person. You moron.
Jack Campbell
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
You don't believe in the "radical" views of SCIENCE (tested, confirmed) but you completely believe in 2000 zombie stories from illiterate goat-herds? Give me a break.
sbbuilder
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2 p.m.
Bunny abbot, how dare you blatantly ignore the pseudo religious context of global warming! You've reduced this to a level of personal responsibility. For shame. That means you probably aren't influenced by lofty academia urging you to change your lifestyle because THEY say so. The very idea.
Mike
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
Excellent post.........
ribs1
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
I'm 37 and don't worry about global cooling at all.
Jack Campbell
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
greg, too: I was being sarcastic, same side buddy.
greg, too
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
Hey Jack, please show us your research on the topic. I would be interested in hearing why your opinion on climate change should trump the scientists who study it for a living. Please, feel free to regale us with your decades of research on the topic. And which facts are we facing? The ones found by scientists or the ones created by the oil and coal lobby's?
Jack Campbell
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
Thanks for the scientific info Mike! Whats your education in? I'm guessing its not science. Stop making climate change a political issue and face the facts.
Mike
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
You should because it is coming again............and then it will warm up, and cool; you get the point...............
xmo
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
"Man Made" Climate change is a Religion! The science does not prove it so you have to BELIEVE! We have had so many wrong predictions about climate change it reminds me of the story of Chicken Little! Generation X is the most scientifically literate and best educated generation in American history …" Miller wrote in the report.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
Yours is not the first example of a long string of declarative sentences (assertions) which are ENTIRELY WRONG. Being "scientifically literate" does not equal being scientifically COMPETENT. I also know that descriptions given of "Gen X" are inaccurate: the most common thing one sess in that age group is that they are no better at actual reasoning than the average 14 year-old (a slight improvement but irrelevant when it comes to deciding important matters).
DJBudSonic
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
This is not true of anyone I know and we are all in this age group. Maybe we are ambivalent about climate change because we have seen corporate money steal any real opportunities for public discourse or sensible policy direction. Knowing that the path to common sense solutions is blocked by special interest has a way of demoralizing a population.
adam deedler
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
yes
DJBudSonic
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
I don't feel especially compelled to explain myself, but one example might be to look into the number of scientists who report on the "global warming fraud" and see how many of them actually are on the payrolls of fossil energy companies. This then is reported by the corporate media as facts, without any verification or independent investigation, and also without disclosing the source of the so-called science. I think this one example, out of many possible ones, fits the description. And this works both ways, the academic community can be every bit as "corporate" and driven and dedicated to their beliefs as private industry; the difference is I am more inclined to believe in data produced for scholarly reasons, than for monetary gain.
sbbuilder
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
O.K., dude, I'm at a loss. Public discourse has been hijacked by corporations? Whaaa? I have a sense this is something you would like to believe, but it is non-sensical and fanciful. Get grounded.
G-Man
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
They "don't really care", because they realize the so called "global warming" is a leftist hoax........
shepard145
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
yes, anyone who can google up a Rolling Stone quote must be as much of a "scientist" as global warming hustler al gore. ...and again, whether the earth is warming or not is not the issue - it's the laughable claim that concumers control the weather, dim wits. What is so hard for you clowns to figure out? Go hug your copy of funnyman Al Frankin's book! LOL
C.C. Ingersoll
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
"June broke or tied 3,215 high-temperature records across the United States. That followed the warmest May on record for the Northern Hemisphere – the 327th consecutive month in which the temperature of the entire globe exceeded the 20th-century average, the odds of which occurring by simple chance were 3.7 x 10^99, a number considerably larger than the number of stars in the universe. " http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719 "Meteorologists reported that this spring was the warmest ever recorded for our nation – in fact, it crushed the old record by so much that it represented the "largest temperature departure from average of any season on record." The same week, Saudi authorities reported that it had rained in Mecca despite a temperature of 109 degrees, the hottest downpour in the planet's history. " Yar.... "Leftist hoax" -- sure thing.
Jack Campbell
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.
Yeah those darn things liberals call facts. Always getting in the way of the truth. Next they will be telling us the earth is older than 6k years and we are evolved from apes!
SonnyDog09
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
If Generation X is "the most scientifically literate and best educated generation", how come they do not know the difference between ambiguous and ambivalent?
SEC Fan
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.
Education does not equal Intelligence. Lots of Gen Xers with BAs in Sociology and $100K in student loans.
Brad
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.
How about 'apathetic'? That's really what it sounds like.
Billy
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.
""These results are not comforting to those of us who worry about the health of American democracy in the 21st century," Miller wrote in the report." WHAT DOES CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE HAVE TO DO WITH DEMOCRACY!??!?!?!????
greg, too
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
"Climate change is nothing more than another way to raise some tax dollars to save the politicians from the angry elctorate when we rune out of money." That might be one of the dumbest things I have read on this site in a long time. I would disagree with Miller's assessment that gen X'ers don't care about climate change. I would imagine the lethargy, just like we feel for bank reform or getting us out of these toxic wars, about democracy and the government as a whole is linked directly to our failing governments. We have been so numbed by our federal, state, and local governments bickering and fighting and lying to us and each other that it's really hard to care much about anything coming from Washington, Lansing, or our city councils. We all know who they are worried about, and it is not us or the planet. But I would imagine most of those people polled recycle and try to limit the damage they do to the planet. But putting stock in our backa@#ward government trying to fix the mistakes they helped create, a government made up of the "greatest generation" and our parents, is an exercise in futility. We've been hosed by them long enough (see the economy) that we just can't get interested in more bs coming from them.
Mike
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
It has nothing to do with democracy. if they were so worried about preserving our democracy they would balance the darn budget and quit spending our country into financial ruin. Climate change is nothing more than another way to raise some tax dollars to save the politicians from the angry elctorate when we rune out of money. We should be more concerned with "elected official" change than climate change. If we could really control the climate don't you think we would have done it by now?
Billy
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
"Generation X, which consists of people born between the years of the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, apparently cares much less about climate change issues than researchers anticipated." Wow...you say they "care much less" about climate change? And you drew that conclusion from...? "When polled on issues like use of fossil fuels, the state of global warming and alternative energy sources, Generation X-ers responded with middle-of-the-road answers that showed they neither strongly agreed nor strongly disagreed." OH!!!! So you say they don't care because they DIDN'T chose extremist answers....I see.... MAYBE.....just MAYBE....because they are now older and better educated (statistics say this is so) ....that they've looked at the evidence from both sides....and have come to a conclusion that you just don't like?
Billy
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 11:20 a.m.
I'm sorry....I'm 33....I am VERY much not part of generation X. They try to define generation X by saying I was influenced by events that occurred before I was born or when I was a small child and couldn't comprehend things. It's a debated description for a reason. A 7 year old has an entirely different perspective of the challenger disaster than a 17 year old or even 27 year old does.
1bit
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.
If you watched "Saved by the Bell", and you did, then you're Gen X - just at the trailing end.