[prawn]

Unfortunately, I think you're right.

A friend of mine (who works in energy) was telling me about how the case for renewable energy is being made (to some extent) successfully in Kansas. They push three points:

  - reduce expenditure
  - US should reduce reliance on foreign oil
  - have a duty to protect the earth god gave us

I wonder if the broader case could be made more successfully along these lines (with variations for each arena) rather than leaving it to more divisive arguments where people aggressively take sides (religion vs science, views on reach of government, etc).

[rdtsc]

> - have a duty to protect the earth god gave us

One thing that has always baffled me about American Christians is how apathetic they are towards the environment.

At its core, I guess, the issue is that many are suckered by the right wingers and propaganda from large corporations to vote in their camp, by always bringing up other, more "pressing", moral issues.

I think as long as there are only 2 main viable parties to vote for, many of those folks will still vote along the traditional party lines.

So I agree with you, but it is an uphill battle.

[prawn]

On "more pressing issues", I often visit the Shared Words project started by another HNer that lists the most shared news articles from mainstream news sites. I am always astounded at how often the top news items on US sites are saturated with stories about gay this, homosexual that. There are so many more intriguing and pressing issues in our world than what people get up to privately and (hopefully) legally with their genitalia!

[rdtsc]

I think there is plenty of interest in keeping them thinking about genitalia instead of politics, economy, propaganda and the environment.

[seabee]

Many folks still vote along traditional party lines even when you have 3 or more viable parties, as is the case in most of Europe. Tribalism is rather persistent.