Chapter 1 - Citizen Action
Broad public support
Californians have long cared deeply about clean air and water; protecting the coastline, forests, and natural resources of the state; and ensuring safe and healthy food and drinking water. A July 2004 survey demonstrated the depth of this support by asking potential voters to choose between two of their top areas of concern: the environment and economic growth. In that poll of 2,505 adult residents, 55% of Californians questioned said that protection of the environment should be given priority in the state, even at the risk of curbing economic growth, while only 29% said economic growth should be given priority.[2]
Voters have long understood the connection between industrial pollution and health and environmental damage. A March 2004 poll found nearly unanimous agreement among respondents that toxic chemicals and industrial pollutants can cause health problems and cause disease (97% agree, 82% strongly agree).[3] The fact that voters show such a strong belief in the link between industrial pollution and negative health impacts helps explain how voters and their elected representatives have been able to pass a wide range of public health and environmental protections despite consistent, intense, industry opposition.
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