Ignorance for a Price: How The Fossil Fuel Industry Pays Politicians To Doubt Science

12 months ago, 68% of American people believed that climate modify was real. Today, which number has jumped in order to 76%, according to a new survey by UT Energy. Which shift is not surprising, thinking about the record-breaking temperatures and common droughts and weather interruptions that have occurred in the last a year.

But what is most surprising concerning this new poll is the change in attitudes of Republican voters.

In March of the year, less than half of Republicans (47%) believed that environment change was real. These days, the UT Energy survey shows that 59% of Republicans believe in climate change, a rise of 12 points in only 7 months.

These survey numbers are for the general public at large, so what happens when functioning at a small percentage of american citizens, perhaps the members of The legislature? Those numbers look pretty many from their constituents’ views.

Based on Think Progress, 53% associated with Republicans in the U. H. House of Representatives refuse the existence of climate change, as well as 70% of the Republicans within the Senate are climate alter deniers.

The question here is why the disparity? Both sides - the public and our own elected officials - get access to the same information, so why tend to be members of Congress much more likely than the general public to reject climate change? The answer is relatively obvious: The public isn’t getting money from the fossil energy industry.

As Open Techniques reports, the oil and gas industries have driven more than $36 million in to the upcoming 2016 elections, along with 93% of that money likely to Republicans. In 2014, that will total was $64 mil, and 87% went to Republicans. In 2012, a presidential election year, the amount through these two industries topped $76 million, with 89% starting the campaign coffers regarding Republicans.

The coal business is also a major player within American politics, and for 2016, 2014, and 2012, the donated $2 million, $11 million, and $15 thousand, respectively, with an average involving 94% of that money gonna Republicans.

This money purchases so much more than political mementos. Yes, it has given all of them the ability to drill in places that were previously off limitations and it has prevented countless brand new carbon reduction proposals coming from taking place, but something much more dangerous has been purchased with this particular campaign money: The unclean energy industry is having to pay our elected officials to stay ignorant.

When you look at the technology behind climate change, there is no way to deny there is no benefits happening around the planet. Along with reports showing us in which taking action will end up preserving us trillions of bucks in economic costs, much more absolutely no sense for people of Congress to continue to be able to refuse to do anything about the issue. Imagine if the industry weren’t allowed to pour money in to political campaigns and it gets fairly obvious that these science-denying politicians would likely end their own obstructionist ways because they do not have reason not to.

The bottom line is this money is corrupting our legislators in more ways than we are able to count, and the ignorance which we’re seeing from Our elected representatives today is evidence that will corporate money is creating our elected officials ridiculous.

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