I’ve previously noted that the GOP’s stance on climate change is dramatically different from that of conservative parties in other energy-producing countries, such as Canada and Australia. I attributed the difference to the greater popularity of right-wing religion and higher amounts of anti-state DNA in American culture. I’m thinking now, however, that there is another culprit; the environment is collateral damage in the culture wars.
What do I mean by that? Well, the Reactionary faction of the GOP has no inherent interest in protecting the pocketbooks of fossil fuel producers. However, the Reactionaries view the American government as being nothing less than evil, given that it allegedly promotes the interests of “those people” over salt-of-the-earth white Christians, so any attempt to increase its power to do anything must be opposed to its utmost. Since any effort to combat climate change inevitably involves both the use of scientists (a highly suspect non-Christian group) and the augmentation of state power, it must be resisted regardless of its policy implications.