Paul Krugman thinks the GOP’s refusal to take climate change seriously is based on culture war considerations, not economic self-interest. Is he right?
Yes, but not exactly for the reasons he states in his latest NYT column. The GOP is a reactionary party which values jobs that have traditionally been done by burly men. Fossil fuel industries clearly fit that bill; installing solar panels does not. In addition, the GOP believes passionately in the cult of self-reliance; increasing the size of government only screws things up and encourages dependency. Since there is no rugged individualist solution to climate change, the better approach is to deny that there is a problem, or, in the alternative, to deny that there is any plausible solution.