Debunking Environmental Myths
MYTH #3: Voters believe we must Choose between a Clean Environment and a Healthy Economy |
| TRUTH: A strong majority of voters overwhelmingly reject the notion that we must choose between the environment and the economy. Voters recognize compatibility between a clean environment and a strong economy. Growing consciousness about the environment, environmental gains made over the past 30 years, and the current vibrant economy have created an atmosphere in which voters are unwilling to make a trade-off between a clean environment and a strong economy. |
“Voters strongly reject the notion that we must choose between a strong economy and a clean environment. This is a false choice for most voters.” –Fred Yang, Garin-Hart-Yang
Poll Question:
Please tell me which of these statements comes closest to your own views, even if neither of the statements matches your views exactly:
- We can have a clean environment and a strong economy at the same time without having to choose one over the other;
- Sometimes a clean environment and a strong economy are in conflict and we must choose one over the other.
According to the national poll, a large majority of voters (71 percent) reject the notion that a clean environment and a strong economy are mutually exclusive, compared to a minority (22 percent), who feel that a choice between the economy and the environment must be made.
In every state polled, over two-thirds of voters believe we can have both a clean environment and healthy economy at the same time without having to choose one over the other. Voters in Alaska (82 percent), Idaho (80 percent), Minnesota (79 percent), Tennessee and Connecticut (both at 78 percent) felt most strongly that a choice does not have to be made.
