Saw Bob, my shrink, this morning for one of my occasional tune-ups . . . Bob is a wise man, who has been around for many years. He told me 2008 has been the worse it has ever been, in terms of people feeling stressed out. How can one stay immune to the mass of catastrophic news coming at us every day, global warming being one of them. I am especially thinking of my teenage children and all their friends. It is hard enough dealing with the turmoil of adolescence. Add to it, this massive cloud of free-floating collective anxiety, and you’ve got an explanation to the current malaise amongst college students. Our babies are not doing well.
One big culprit is the lack of a real leader that can take charge. Today’s CBS News poll showed that 81% of Americans believing the country is on the wrong track.
La Marguerite 
Good topic Marguerite. Just a few thoughts . . .
First, one key solution to malaise is to address and solve the underlying problem. It often feels bad to sit and stew about a big problem that seems too big to tackle. But, as you probably know, it feels good to make real progress tackling such a problem. Action helps. That applies to countries as well as to individuals.
Second, I agree that positive and effective leadership matters. Although different people may feel different ways, in terms of how I’m feeling, I will feel much better (and very energized) once one candidate brings positive closure to the prolonged pain that we’re all going through. If “superdelegates” overturn the popular will, on the other hand, I’ll be unhappy (to put it mildly).
Finally, regarding the poll itself, and its relationship to climate change, I wrote a post earlier regarding the poll (for Dot Earth), so I’ll just repeat it here . . .
Life, and NY TIMES POLLS, Without Climate?
On the front page today, the Times reports the results of its latest poll, under the headline “81% In Poll Say Nation Is Headed On Wrong Track”. (See article by David Leonhardt and Marjorie Connelly.)
The detailed poll questions and results can be seen here: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20080403_POLL.pdf
As most of us probably know, the poll is a New York Times/CBS News poll.
Now consider:
The poll contains 96 questions plus some basic demographic questions.
Of the 96 questions asked, not one (as far as I can tell, unless I missed something) was asked specifically about “global warming”, “climate change”, “sustainability”, or related environmental issues. Not one single question!
There was one apparently open-ended question asking people about the “most important problem facing this country today”, and 2% of respondents apparently answered something having to do with “environment”. Apparently, 14% of respondents gave answers that fall into the “other” category.
Now, regarding specific questions asked about other specific subjects (aside from this single open-ended question):
A question or two was asked about approval of Bush’s performance.
Roughly five or more specific questions were asked about the general economy.
At least 11 specific questions were asked about various aspects of a person’s personal financial and job situation.
Over 35 specific questions (I lost count) were asked about the presidential election process and the three main candidates.
Two questions were asked about Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s statements!
At least 2 questions about healthcare.
And, specific questions about housing, college financing, retirement, race relations, Iraq, estate taxes, federal income taxes, trade, the stock market, the home mortgage crisis (about 7 questions), bankruptcy, and a couple questions about religion.
My point: In a NY Times poll including over 96 questions, a poll in which all of the above-mentioned topics were represented by at least one (and often more) specific questions, global warming was NOT addressed in even one single specific question. As far as I can tell, the only mentions of global warming arose when the respondents themselves (perhaps two percent of them?) may have mentioned it in a way that the Times categorized under the term “environment” under the question about the “most important problem.”
Please correct me if I’m wrong? Did I miss a question in the summary of the poll?
If so, I apologize. If not, I see this as incredibly irresponsible and disheartening. Actually, I see it as either highly negligent (if it was a mistake) or unethical (if it was done knowingly for some reason). And, this is not someone else’s poll: If the title of the poll is to be believed, this is a “New York Times/CBS News Poll.”
There seems to be an incredible self-fulfilling cycle here: The media might say, we don’t cover it much, or even ask about it (!!), because the public is not interested. Yet, the public’s interest may reflect the poor coverage in the media and the incredible disinformation that gets passed to the public through the media. Furthermore, many members of the public do not see this issue, yet, as a top-priority issue. That much is clear. But, that doesn’t mean that a substantial portion of the public isn’t concerned at all, and it certainly doesn’t mean that the public’s views on this particular matter can’t be gathered and tracked based on several excellent questions in a periodic poll.
If there is an argument to be made that the Times isn’t dropping a BIG BALL on this issue, please let me know what it is. Anyone?
Also, it just might be that part of the reason 81% of Americans are not feeling so well about the direction of the country these days has to do with matters related to trust, credibility, our ability to solve problems, and so forth. In other words, the media (and poor coverage, reporting, and “stuff” that flows through the media) may very well have a lot to do with dynamics that are ultimately reflected in the current angst. I hope that occurs to the Times and to other media participants. For example, what is the public’s level of trust in the media these days? Put another way, if the media don’t improve on important issues, I’m not going to be sorry (one bit) if advertising revenues drop through the floor. Sorry to say that, but (it seems to me) that’s the case.
Meanwhile, last night, as I was briefly surfing channels, I saw Senator Inhofe (Oklahoma) provide his views regarding climate change on Glenn Beck on CNN. After that, I was about ready to give up on the media entirely or at least sell my TV.
NY Times, are you listening?
I hope this post is helpful in some way. Please do let me know if I missed something in the poll.
Thanks Jeff. I agree with all. The media are people, and they are representative of our population. Vaguely aware, and unmoved to act, with a few exceptions.
So far, I am most encouraged by folks in the technology and business sectors.
This is why I was pushing for a big ad campaign to balance out the lack of adequate communication from the publishing media. I am still waiting for the rest of the “we” campaign. So far all I have seen is that one spot, and you know what I think of it . . .
Nice post Jeff, Marguerite knows how to open the right gates. Is the emphasis on the economy caused by the media, or, are the media at the mercy of what’s left of the eco-nomy? Eco-logy?
The subject of war and election, drugs and deception all combine to push larger issues of global consequence into the realm of overwhelming worry.
The decade of poor leadership and round the clock news coverage has worn a hole in the collective psyche, everyday man has not had time to catch his breath in this polluted atmosphere.
Our immature adaptation to industrial might has led us to precarious heights. marguerite is aiming correctly, technology and business remain our only chance to rectify the course of mankind just in time, if we run.
So well said, Nadine. You are my voice here. Our voice.