4 ms·

Not sharing your take of the electorate's powerlessness at all. It's not an overwhelming majority (only 57% of voters in the US: https://yougov.com/en-us/articl

by jcfrei 7mo ago

Not sharing your take of the electorate's powerlessness at all. It's not an overwhelming majority (only 57% of voters in the US: https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54124-nearly-half-americans-think-they-will-see-catastrophic-impacts-climate-change-in-their-lifetimes-february-13-16-2026-economist-yougov-poll https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54124-nearly-half-american...) which thinks they need to do more about climate change. I think most politicians are in tune with their voters - you need to change the people's minds if you want stricter policies. Refine the question a bit more and ask people if they still want to do more against climate change if some basic necessities in their life will get more expensive and you will likely even drop below 50%.

cogman10 7mo ago
Well part of that 43% I think have their opinions primarily because of propaganda from the same donors who are buying off the politicians. But also, I'd point out that even in the Democrat party where this is more of an 80:20 issue with their constituents, the democrats are still far too friendly to fossil fuels (Biden, for example, specifically campaigned on how much he loves natural gas, fracking, and carbon capture). This isn't the only 80:20 issue where democrat politicians are out of alignment with their base. That's also what informs my pessimism.
- triceratops 7mo ago
  > Biden, for example, specifically campaigned on how much he loves natural gas, fracking, and carbon capture Can't win elections when gas is expensive. I still remember the "I did that" stickers at gas pumps. Biden also signed the largest climate change bill in history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act#Energy_and_climate_change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act#Energy... When voters are heavily propagandized it's an uphill battle to keep fossil fuels cheap, so you can win elections and phase out those same cheap fuels.

by jcfrei 7mo ago

cogman10 7mo ago

Well part of that 43% I think have their opinions primarily because of propaganda from the same donors who are buying off the politicians. But also, I'd point out that even in the Democrat party where this is more of an 80:20 issue with their constituents, the democrats are still far too friendly to fossil fuels (Biden, for example, specifically campaigned on how much he loves natural gas, fracking, and carbon capture). This isn't the only 80:20 issue where democrat politicians are out of alignment with their base. That's also what informs my pessimism.

triceratops 7mo ago
> Biden, for example, specifically campaigned on how much he loves natural gas, fracking, and carbon capture Can't win elections when gas is expensive. I still remember the "I did that" stickers at gas pumps. Biden also signed the largest climate change bill in history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act#Energy_and_climate_change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act#Energy... When voters are heavily propagandized it's an uphill battle to keep fossil fuels cheap, so you can win elections and phase out those same cheap fuels.