Utahns are all about health and welfare—as long as it doesn’t take money. That is the disconnect shown in a new Utah Foundation survey. “60% of respondents support strengthening environmental regulations in the U.S., and over 75% indicated that protecting the environment should be more important than economic growth.” And yet, ask people what they’re willing to pay for. How about a 5% improvement in air quality if it means taxes or cost of goods go up 5%? Nope. No surprise, the more conservative someone is, the less likely they’ll want to fund their own welfare. Only 37% of Utahns were willing to pay more—almost half were a definite “no.” Maybe people just think air is free, but Chinese studies show that people migrate to places with cleaner air, so they are willing to pay indirectly. The problem may be less partisan and more educational. Understanding the downside of dirty air can change minds—and, obviously, health.
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