One wonders how climate change denial will work for Repubs in the general election

[AxionExcel]

Even though reality denial is a fundamental Republican strategy,
actual reality keeps slapping America in the face. WAKE UP!

From today's NY Times:

Seas Are Rising at Fastest Rate in Last 28 Centuries

"The worsening of tidal flooding in American coastal communities is largely a consequence of greenhouse gases from human activity, and the problem will grow far worse in coming decades, scientists reported Monday.

Those emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, are causing the ocean to rise at the fastest rate since at least the founding of ancient Rome, the scientists said..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/23/science/sea-level-rise-global-warming-climate-change.html?emc=edit_th_20160223&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=47943027&_r=0

[get the red out]

1. It will work well

People don't like facing reality.

[Hortensis]

2. I agree -- unless we get another Sandy

just in time for the election. People don't like being slapped in the face either, but it helps them focus on that reality, even if only temporarily.

Problem is, climate denial is part of a large belief frame with many elements. Many people won't just change their minds on this without developing a new belief structure that will allow them to continue to believe that they were always intelligent and responsible and that the Democrats/liberals were just as wrong and irresponsible as they always are.

In the meantime, although I'm guessing unspoken anxiety over this issue is definitely contributing to the chaos this election, denial from leaders is still probably more comforting than otherwise -- they're not alone, they're still and always part of a big group of good people who feel as they do.

[AxionExcel]

3. Alas, by the time November rolls around we may well have another Sandy

[Hortensis]

4. LOL! I just knocked wood on that, though.

After all, politically, one storm is as good as another terrorism attack, just not for the same party.

[edgineered]

5. One of their favorite fall-back talking points is China

and other countries are worse, won't stop, and burn coal, etc. That is often followed by saying it will only hurt us to stop until everyone else does. It's what they do, deny, deny, deny.