This will be a hot topic over the weekend on talk shows in America, I guess. The way it is being presented in the U.S. (with nationalcenter DOT org for example even going as far as suggesting parallels with Sandanista-style repression) is much more of an issue to American sensibilities than it is to Britons'. Of course, conservative think tanks have picked up on this topic already, because it plays right into their game plan, and they will twist it to fit and wring it to death, but they make the mistake of viewing it from an American perspective. The drama plays out on a UK stage. Interesting viewing.
In other words, our cultural differences mean that British people, on the whole, are much more likely to expect the British government to look out for their interests (i.e. the public interest) than Americans would ever believe.
In Britain, most people accept global warming as a fact of life. There is some debate, stirred up by TGGWS recently, but beyond that it is not a big deal: businesses are getting on with it (not business-as-usual). Local governments need a nudge in the right direction, but the public are generally quietly supportive of scientists, I believe.
Audiences watching players on a global stage attend performances with their own frames of reference. This is a good example.
This will be a hot topic over the weekend on talk shows in America, I guess. The way it is being presented in the U.S. (with nationalcenter DOT org for example even going as far as suggesting parallels with Sandanista-style repression) is much more of an issue to American sensibilities than it is to Britons'. Of course, conservative think tanks have picked up on this topic already, because it plays right into their game plan, and they will twist it to fit and wring it to death, but they make the mistake of viewing it from an American perspective. The drama plays out on a UK stage. Interesting viewing.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, our cultural differences mean that British people, on the whole, are much more likely to expect the British government to look out for their interests (i.e. the public interest) than Americans would ever believe.
In Britain, most people accept global warming as a fact of life. There is some debate, stirred up by TGGWS recently, but beyond that it is not a big deal: businesses are getting on with it (not business-as-usual). Local governments need a nudge in the right direction, but the public are generally quietly supportive of scientists, I believe.
Audiences watching players on a global stage attend performances with their own frames of reference. This is a good example.
see also Wunsch's commentary.
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