Energy Production vs. Environmental protection

[HungLikeJesus]

Which do you feel is more important?

(From here.)

Marking a shift from the early 2000s, Americans are now nearly evenly divided over whether environmental protection or energy production should be given priority, according to a Gallup poll released March 23.

A slightly higher percentage of respondents, 47% to 44%, said U.S. development of oil, gas and coal should be given priority over protecting the environment, Gallup reported. The results were based on the organization's annual environment poll, conducted March 8-11.

In 2011, fully 50% of respondents said U.S. energy development should be given priority, versus 41% favoring environmental protection, Gallup noted. The results from this year and last year represent a shift from those in a 2002 Gallup poll, when 52% of Americans favored protecting the environment while 36% gave priority to energy development.

Among Democrats, 56% in the March 2012 poll gave priority to environmental protection, with 34% favoring energy production. That number shifted dramatically among Republicans, with only 24% giving priority to protecting the environment and 68% favoring energy production. Among independents, 49% gave priority to environmental protection and 41% to energy production.
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Again I needs must wonder - what is it that conservatives are conserving?