Where Do Americans Learn About Environmentalism, Climate Disruption, Etc.?

I received a comment from one Hugh Haskell on my recent post in which I expressed my displeasure at my fellow Americans for their failure to “get it” with respect to environmentalism in general and climate change in particular. Since most readers don’t spend too much time on the comments, I wanted to post it here to ensure as many people saw it as possible:

I don’t think you need to trash the American public to that extent. It’s not all their fault.

They have, for years, been bombarded by the fossil fuel industry BS without let-up and without any pushback. It is any wonder that they are largely ignorant of the true benefits of renewable energy? Even MSNBC, where I am pretty sure that almost all of the broadcast staff understands the damage to the planet being systematically done by the fossil fuel industry, when was the last time you heard any of them pointing out the folly of continued fossil fuel use, other than in the midst of some catastrophic environmental disaster (think Deepwater Horizon), even though every other commercial is from BP, or Exxon, or Shell—or another cohort. We continually hear from certifiably nuts politicians that “climate change is a fraud,” or “God wouldn’t let anything happen to us,” or some similar nonsense.

The Merchants of Doubt have, for years had almost free run of the playing field, and they have used that time effectively. Is it any wonder that the public is not behind climate change as they should be?

That’s an extremely astute point, my friend. I sometimes get on a roll and don’t know when to stop rolling.

And you’re 100% correct that we all—on both sides of this and every other issue—tend to believe the sources we choose to read. That’s why the media has such a great responsibility, and that, in turn, is why so many people are so upset that independent, responsible, high-integrity media has all but vanished in this country.