Earth Equity News

Global Warming Skepticism in Tea Party. By John M. Broder, NYTimes, 10/21/10. “Skepticism and outright denial of global warming are among the articles of faith of the Tea Party movement, here in Indiana and across the country. For some, it is a matter of religious conviction; for others, it is driven by distrust of those they call the elites. And for others still, efforts to address climate change are seen as a conspiracy to impose world government and a sweeping redistribution of wealth. But all are wary of the Obama administration’s plans to regulate carbon dioxide, a ubiquitous gas, which will require the expansion of government authority into nearly every corner of the economy.

“The oil, coal and utility industries have collectively spent $500 million just since the beginning of 2009 to lobby against legislation to address climate change and to defeat candidates… according to a new analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a left-leaning advocacy group in Washington. Their message appears to have fallen on receptive ears. Of the 20 Republican Senate candidates in contested races, 19 question the science of global warming and oppose any comprehensive legislation to deal with it, according to a National Journal survey… A large majority of Tea Party-supported House candidates also doubt global warming science and oppose energy legislation designed to address it.” Editor’s note: A revenue-neutral carbon tax, where fossil fuel is taxed at its source, arguably does not involve “government authority into nearly every corner of the economy.”