What's Wrong with Albertans?

the results of a recent poll show that in canada,

32 per cent said they believe climate change is happening because of human activity, while 54 per cent said they believe it's because of human activity and partially due to natural climate variation.

these numbers seem startlingly low to me, but at the same time it really should come as no surprise. afterall, the leader of the conservative government in canada is the son of an oil executive, and the country is home to the most environmentally detrimental project on the face of the earth, the tar sands of alberta.

let's not forget also that canada thinks nothing of exporting asbestos to developing countries, or continuing with unethical practices like the seal hunt, even though the european union has demonstrated that they no longer want canada's bloody fur.

but as if canadians as a whole weren't in the dark enough about global warming, only 21% of albertans believe climate change is occurring due to human activities. and it is these very same uninformed alberta imbeciles who don't give a damn about nature, as they buy their huge gas guzzling pickup trucks and thoughtlessly leave them idling for lengthy periods of time, without considering the impact it has on the environment or the people who have to breathe that shit in.

if alberta were its own country, it would have the highest carbon footprint of any other country on the planet at 69 tonnes of co2 spewed out per person per year, due largely to the tar sands, and in no small part to the harmful lifestyle choices of so many albertans.

yet 79% of these weirdo hicks do not believe that people play a role in altering the very chemical makeup of our atmosphere putting life as we know it at risk. what facts are they basing their beliefs on and where are they getting their information? is it from the local media, who seem more concerned about a new "cool looking" arena in downtown edmonton or the amount of pesky mosquitoes in summer, than in asking the tough questions and speaking truth to power; or is it from their right-wing government, who time and again side with corporate interests over the health and well-being of people and wildlife; or is it from the oil and gas industry, whose only concern is raking in millions more in profits?

it would seem it's much easier for people to believe that something is not happening so they can continue with business as usual. but the truth still exists, despite what they may "believe". in her book breaking the sound barrier, democracy now's amy goodman writes,

truth matters..."you're entitled to your own opinions, you're not entitled to your own facts," the late senator daniel patrick moynihan famously observed.

if your beliefs are not based on factual evidence, they are worthless. actually, they are worse than worthless, in many cases, they are downright harmful and destructive.

meanwhile, the clueless redneck in his pickup at the end of the street has been sitting in his idling truck for over 1/2 hour now and counting.

what's wrong with albertans?