Taxes or the environment – which would you choose? A recent poll in the State of New Jersey asked this question, as part of many, as to what the public would like to see the State exert its efforts on. The majority of respondents, 49%, wanted to see their property and income state tax reduced.
No Taxes, But Money For Defense?
Only 3% wanted the State to spend money on the environment. Now, before the late night talk show hosts have a field day about New Jersey, it raises an interesting question. Do people really want to do something about the environment? The poll in New Jersey is just a small sampling of this country, and if you get beyond the Turnpike landscape around Newark airport, New Jersey is really a beautiful state. It’s called the Garden State for a good reason. It’s actually one of the best kept secrets outside of that area, on just how inviting it can be there. But, back to the environment. We all like to talk a good game about the environment, especially in the media, and many of us are quite devoted to fixing it and preserving it. So why then do the majority of people chose taxes over the environment? Probably for all of the same reasons Copenhagen failed. Not in my back yard. When it comes to money, and actually changing our behavior about things we really are not too sure about, we get very conservative. Why should I spend money on something I can’t really see the benefit for, and I don’t really see any climatic changes going on in my back yard. You might think differently if you lived in the Maldives, but here in the U.S., and it seems for most places in the world, if it’s going to cost us – then we really don’t want to spend money on it. I guess the best way to solve all of the issues regarding the environment is to scare the crap out of people. Something our government knows how to do very well. Remember the cold war? The new war on terror? If the military industrial complex can create enough fear to have our government throw billions to them, then why can’t the environmentalists? I guess we’ll have to wait until one of the major cities on any of the coasts sinks into the ocean, before the money is spent on climate change.
John Vlahakis
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