Global warming ranks last in poll

In a poll from the Pew Research Center, global warming came in last amongst the public's priorities. I've always felt global warming was being hyped more in the media than was truly on the minds of most people. This is not an argument about the science behind global warming (or climate change as it is now called), rather it is an affirmation of people's priorities. Global warming, the environment, concern for others depends greatly on one's own particular plight. If you have a job, have a home, food and a some standard of living then you start to worry about issues beyond your own survival. However, the economy and world affairs are keeping people focused squarely on survival issues and only the affluent or activists make global warming a priority. Think about it, how many people do you hear in the grocery store, local bar, sporting event, bookstore, restaurant, or coffee house arguing about the effects of global warming? If an affluent nation such as the US doesn't have a large population discussing global warming, what is the likelihood that in nations such as Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, in this hemisphere or Pakistan, Vietnam, or Laos in the Eastern Hemisphere have global warming as a priority? I would wager these countries are also focused on survival issues.

Public's Priorities for 2010: Economy, Jobs, Terrorism: Summary of Findings - Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

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