# Why the conservative anger over climate change **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845 "2015-10-16T20:47:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/21 "2015-10-16T23:24:33Z")
Add to the above a new reason to be angry: the fact that some scientists are attempting to use RICO to stifle free speech. > **[Letter To President Obama: Investigate Deniers Under RICO | ScienceBlogs](https://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2015/09/19/letter-to-president-obama-investigate-deniers-under-rico)** > > The following is the text of a letter written by a number of scientists asking for a federal investigation of climate science denial under the RICO statute. > Letter to President Obama, Attorney General Lynch, and OSTP Director Holdren > September 1,... ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/22 "2015-10-16T23:39:32Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > -Evangelical Christians. They either say God will take care of it, it is God’s will, or it doesn’t matter because they will be raptured at 3:27PM next Tuesday afternoon. We could only wish; that would take care of two birds with one stone: ridding ourselves of the screaming Jesus freak contingent _and_ undermining the unstated pretext for _The Leftovers_. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/23 "2015-10-16T23:42:42Z")
I think it is because they know Global Warming is true and getting angry is easier than admitting it ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/24 "2015-10-17T00:02:54Z")
The genuine reasons for conservative resistance\* to accepting the presence of climate change have been touched on: the government programs/restrictions that are seen as interfering with commerce and personal freedoms as well as costing a lot of money. There is also the perception that action against climate change is directed towards reducing American power and influence. And then we have the distrust of experts and anti-science ideology that pervades a substantial portion of the right wing. \*I think it is counterproductive to use the word “anger” here. No one likes “angry” people, thus use of this term (which I see as used as a debate tactic in connection with other controversial subjects) is loaded, unhelpful and often inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/25 "2015-10-17T00:21:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > … \*I think it is counterproductive to use the word “anger” here. No one likes “angry” people, thus use of this term (which I see as used as a debate tactic in connection with other controversial subjects) is loaded, unhelpful and often inaccurate. The whole and entire point of the OP is that he deals with conservative ordinary citizens that \*are \*angry. Not resistant. Angry. And he wants to know \*why \*their resistance is taking the form of anger as opposed to some other approach to controversy. Such as reasoned debate, or non-violent protest or … I agree with the others that the vested interests aren’t angry; they’re simply pursuing their agenda as best they can. And one of their techniques is to pay for mass media things that anger-up the base. IMO, ultimately fear and anger are very very similar emotions. And fear is the main driving emotion here. Once you have fearful people, it’s easy to convert them to anger. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/26 "2015-10-17T00:59:38Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > There’s an overall anti-Science bias in certain groups. (Not all conservative.) If you tell them the Moon causes the tides, they will laugh and point at you. Facts don’t matter. There’s a whole anti-intellectualism thing going on, not just anti-science. If you ever listen to the major right-wing radio shows, all the commercials are “I discovered the secret THEY don’t want you to know about” themed. “My dog was riddled with disease and my fancy-pants vet just kept prescribing pills but one jar of Dyno-Bites and Fido was right as rain!” and “My tummy hurt for years and my doctor couldn’t do nothing but one jar of probiotics and I was pooping like a healthy horse!”. Plus all the “secret economy info” goldbugs and survival gear sellers. It’s like the entire demo for these shows is people convinced that the intellectual “THEY” are wrong but someone else will serve up down home common sense wisdom to save them. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/27 "2015-10-17T01:48:21Z")
“You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the New West. You know—morons.” - Mel Brooks. You have to wonder when there are a dozen Republican candidates, and Donald Trump is leading. And then there is Ben Carson. A brain surgeon. But wait a minute, he believes in a 6000 year old young earth ‘theory’? Carson should be the most scientifically grounded candidate (or contestants as the Donald calls them). Trump says that Mexico will build a fence, pay for it and like it. Right. I can’t imagine that these guys are stupid. Or that stupid. Trump will say anything to keep himself on the front page. And get votes. Carson, well, I don’t know. Maybe he is just a nut job. Or, just after the votes of the ‘common clay’. Didn’t think of the God weather angle. It’s scary that we are moving backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/28 "2015-10-17T02:08:43Z")
Trump is a huckster pandering for an angle. Carson is a true believer. Both are advancing an agenda that has been well marketed to its target audience of people who are disaffected with the current Republican leadership but fear that moderation and reason may dilute the GOP “brand” (whatever that means). And frankly, it isn’t as if any of the candidates across the isle inspire any confidence in leadership or dealing with climate change effectively, either. It’s a confederacy of dunces all around. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/29 "2015-10-17T02:27:54Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > And frankly, it isn’t as if any of the candidates across the isle inspire any confidence in leadership or dealing with climate change effectively, either. So Republicans are on their own island now? Or perhaps you meant aisle. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/30 "2015-10-17T03:01:55Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Trump is a huckster pandering for an angle. Carson is a true believer. Both are advancing an agenda that has been well marketed to its target audience of people who are disaffected with the current Republican leadership but fear that moderation and reason may dilute the GOP “brand” (whatever that means). And frankly, it isn’t as if any of the candidates across the isle inspire any confidence in leadership or dealing with climate change effectively, either. It’s a confederacy of dunces all around. > > Stranger Trump would have made a good barker for a carnival show. And I guess that’s what this is. Carson though. Can’t wrap my mind around a new earth creationist being the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/31 "2015-10-17T03:06:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > . . . There is also the perception that action against climate change is directed towards reducing American power and influence. . . . I see it exactly the opposite! America has an opportunity to be the world leader in saving the planet, and it’s the rear-guard who are sabotaging this superb chance to exercise power and influence. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/32 "2015-10-17T03:06:43Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > So Republicans are on their own island now? > > Or perhaps you meant aisle. I think Strangers very forgivable misspelling is probably close to the truth. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/33 "2015-10-17T03:27:08Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There’s a whole anti-intellectualism thing going on, not just anti-science. If you ever listen to the major right-wing radio shows, all the commercials are “I discovered the secret THEY don’t want you to know about” themed. “My dog was riddled with disease and my fancy-pants vet just kept prescribing pills but one jar of Dyno-Bites and Fido was right as rain!” and “My tummy hurt for years and my doctor couldn’t do nothing but one jar of probiotics and I was pooping like a healthy horse!”. Plus all the “secret economy info” goldbugs and survival gear sellers. It’s like the entire demo for these shows is people convinced that the intellectual “THEY” are wrong but someone else will serve up down home common sense wisdom to save them. I also think anti-intellectualism is at the root of it. And it’s at the root of Obama-hating, too. The far right hates him because not only is he really smart, he’s an uppity Black man who went to Harvard and married a Black woman who did the same damn thing. Who the hell do they think they are? ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/34 "2015-10-17T04:15:29Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There is also the perception that action against climate change is directed towards reducing American power and influence. Kind of going along with this is distrust that other countries will go along with any agreements. I hear about climate discussions along the lines of “countries will reduce carbon outputs to where they were 20 years ago” or something like that. But then you start hearing that, hey, that’s the timeframe when Germany merged back together, so they shut down the useless old Soviet era factories and got themselves in line without any real significant sacrifices needed. And then China exempts themselves, claiming that they were still a developing country so aren’t subject to the same rules, and quite frankly they’re likely to lie about anything they are subject to. Now, I’m not saying all of the above is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth–but that’s the kind of thing you hear a lot of–so if you’re being asked to sign a contract, you believe you will be held to the terms of the contract, but you believe everyone else will ignore or worm their way out of the terms, would you sign it? ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/35 "2015-10-17T04:44:15Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > This oversimple OP requires an oversimple response. > > If climate change exists, a lot of left wing ideas/programs are needed - renewable energy, carbon taxes, fuel efficient cars, reduction of urban sprawl, etc. > > These sorts of things really cut against the grain of right wing thinking. Generally, more rules and less freedom. That’s what’s at the root of all the opposition. I think this pretty much nails it. I think it’s similar to why liberals are more suspicious of nuclear power and GMOs; to many, big corporations are evil and can’t possibly be the source of good. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/36 "2015-10-17T05:38:20Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I think this pretty much nails it. > > I think it’s similar to why liberals are more suspicious of nuclear power and GMOs; many, big corporations are evil and can’t possibly be the source of good. Living in a strongly blue state I haven’t met many people like the OP’s examples, but I’ve certainly seen enough of them in the media, for example when some conservative elders demanded that the government keep its hands off their Medicare. I’ve found that some people have a remarkable ability to compartmentalize their belief system, so that it’s possible to be a competent, even ingenious, within one technical or scientific area, yet still insist that God created the earth during six days in early October, 6019 years ago, as Ben Carson apparently does. Equally perverse, in my opinion at least, is the notion that, in order to be a believer in God one must accept literally that a woman named Eve had an unfortunate encounter with a snake that lived in a tree. Without that belief, there can be no Christianity. Progressives obviously aren’t immune to such beliefs and behaviors, but I think it plays out a little differently in our case. The yearning of Christian conservatives for the End Times has its parallel in environmentalists who yearn for another Chixculub to destroy human civilization, and with luck, humanity itself. In times past, people spoke of saving or protecting the **world** , meaning the planet and most of the life on it, including humanity. Today many people talk about saving the planet to mean essentially the same thing, but for a few, this turn of phrase really does mean just the planet and the “natural” parts. Humanity, for them, is at best dispensable and at worst a pernicious blight, as in the remake of _The Day The Earth Stood Still_. Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic themes seem to have taken over SF and YA literature, which I find rather foreboding. It’s easy to laugh off a stern and tiny fundamentalist church in some Southeastern state. But when nihilism takes hold in huge segments of the population, that’s very ominous. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/37 "2015-10-17T06:34:22Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I’ve found that some people have a remarkable ability to compartmentalize their belief system, so that it’s possible to be a competent, even ingenious, within one technical or scientific area, yet still insist that God created the earth during six days in early October, 6019 years ago, as Ben Carson apparently does. See, I find this hard to believe. The man spent 8+ years being trained in a highly scientific area of medicine. If you set him down in a private room, with an absolute guarantee of confidentiality and got him to tell the truth…C’mon. I believe the man is cynical. Deeply cynical. He’s evaluated the voting block he can appeal to and he’s serving it up. I need to believe these things, have to believe these things. Otherwise, the world makes _just a little_ less sense to me. ☹ So I ask for mercy. Just let me believe Ben Carson is a soulless asshole who has concluded that the average IQ of the American voter hovers somewhere around 80. The man is a fucking _neurosurgeon_ ferkrisakkes! A **pediatric** neurosurgeon, no less. Who doesn’t believe in evolution?! That takes some cajones right there. 🕶 Well played Mr. Carson. Well played. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/38 "2015-10-17T06:38:27Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > See, I find this hard to believe. The man spent 8+ years being trained in a highly scientific area of medicine. If you set him down in a private room, with an absolute guarantee of confidentiality and got him to tell the truth…C’mon. / his ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/39 "2015-10-17T06:50:28Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > See, I find this hard to believe. The man spent 8+ years being trained in a highly scientific area of medicine. If you set him down in a private room, with an absolute guarantee of confidentiality and got him to tell the truth…C’mon. > > I believe the man is cynical. Deeply cynical. He’s evaluated the voting block he can appeal to and he’s serving it up. > > I need to believe these things, have to believe these things. Otherwise, the world makes _just a little_ less sense to me. ☹ So I ask for mercy. Just let me believe Ben Carson is a soulless asshole who has concluded that the average IQ of the American voter hovers somewhere around 80. > > The man is a fucking _neurosurgeon_ ferkrisakkes! A **pediatric** neurosurgeon, no less. Who doesn’t believe in evolution?! That takes some cajones right there. 🕶 Well played Mr. Carson. Well played. The thing is, though, that he doesn’t _need_ to accept the theory of evolution in order to be a competent surgeon or even a groundbreaking one. He’d probably say the brain and all the rest of the human body is a creation of the Lord, but that needn’t interfere with the understanding of how the brain works, where to cut, or how to conduct the operation with respect to the anesthesiologist, nurses, and other personnel. In spite of the fact that I disagree entirely with his views on the origins of the universe, I would unhesitatingly place myself in his hands if I needed a brain operation. Medicine is, after all, an applied science. In the same way, a civil engineer can be a fundamentalist Christian without losing the know-how needed to design a bridge, a software developer can believe in the FSM but still build good apps, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845/40 "2015-10-17T06:56:26Z")
If you want to understand conservative anger I recommend reading conservative blogs and listening to right wing radio, especially the call in segments. The basic narrative is that rich liberal elites on the coasts control the country and don’t give a shit about flyover states. They use the government to maintain this control and line their pockets. From this basic worldview flows a lot of goofy conspiracy theories, especially ones that involve the elites using international influence to maintain their power (the UN, black helicopters, the Amero, world government, terrorists in the government, Mexican immigrants, whatever). They see GW as a big excuse for the government to grab more power and further their control, which is why they dismiss it as a lib CT. Cite scientific papers? The conclusions of international organizations? You mean the papers from liberal eggheads or foreigners? Good luck with that one. I’d agree there’s a religious undertone to some of the resistance, mainly flowing from the idea that God gave Earth to humans to do as we wish. > [@Trinopus](#): > > I see it exactly the opposite! America has an opportunity to be the world leader in saving the planet, and it’s the rear-guard who are sabotaging this superb chance to exercise power and influence. I seriously doubt a regime dedicated to eternal economic growth would ever be inclined towards “saving the planet.” But hope springs eternal and all that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-conservative-anger-over-climate-change/734845.md?page=3)