A New Poll Finds More Americans Oppose Fracking Than Support It

[RiverLover]

Sanity prevails! There's hope for us yet.

A New Poll Finds More Americans Oppose Fracking Than Support It
by Jeff Spross Posted on November 13, 2014 at 9:24 am

"A clear majority of Americans now oppose hydraulic fracturing, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center. And while most voters still support construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, support is slipping there as well.

...Development of the process over the last decade or so has lead to a boom in North American fossil fuel production, but it’s also come along with a host of problems — studies suggest at least ten percent of the chemicals used in the fracturing fluid are toxic, posing a threat to drinking water; people who live near fracking wells are more likely to become sick thanks to the pollution; methane leaks from the industry exacerbate global warming; and the process may even trigger earthquakes.

According to Pew, support for fracking stood at 48 percent in March of 2013, versus 38 percent opposition. But as of November 2014, Americans have flipped their position: 41 percent now favor the process while 47 percent oppose it. And while support fell across all demographic groups, the biggest drops — all 10 percentage points or more — occurred among women, voters under age 49, those with some college education, Midwesterners, and independent voters. Women already opposed the fossil fuel extraction process by one percentage point in March of 2013, but for every other one of those groups, the change flipped them from decisive approval to decisive opposition.

At the same time, the partisanship around fracking remains strong:

Republicans support it by 62 percent, while Democrats oppose it by 59 percent."

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/11/13/3591891/pew-poll-voters-oppose-fracking/

Idiot rethugs, bringing down the nation's collective IQ.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Yet Americans voted for the GOP in 2014.

Americans also supported minimum wage increases, yet they also voted for GOPers who believe in abolishing the minimum wage.

The electorate is a confused, idiotic bunch.

[LanternWaste]

4. Or (and I find this more likely), the GOP is quite effective at branding their message.

"The electorate is a confused, idiotic bunch..."

Or (and I find this more likely), the GOP is quite effective at branding their own message, and even better at re-branding the Democratic message.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Or...maybe Americans are a bunch of idiots...

...idiots who fall for "branding"....

[marmar]

2. Haven't the politicians, sadly of both parties......

..... made it rather obvious that they don't give a frog's fat ass what the American public wants?

[yeoman6987]

3. As with most polls, they need to be done locally

For example, how does Pennsyvania poll on the question? That is important. If Western Pennsylvania polls against it then we are making gains big time.

[RiverLover]

6. PA voters just elected a Democratic Governor arguing for regulating fracking & oversight.

That's got to be a good sign. The oil industry has bought both sides on this though, as has been stated here. And they've got the MSM in their pockets too.

But just knowing that most people can see through the BS the oil industry spins & see the destruction isn't worth the gains, it makes me feel better. Hopeful, for at least some more restrictions & oversight. There are neither here in Ohio's Utica shale, and the 260+ fracking radioactive, toxic waste facilities throughout the state.