How does polarization drive people out of the environmental movement?
Few people consider themselves enemies of the environment. But to use polarization as an organizing tool, you have to identify an enemy. Anyone so identified, and their friends, would soon see themselves as enemies–not of the environment but of environmentalists. Since most of the people identified as enemies were Republicans, environmentalists began thinking of themselves as Democrats. During the 1970s, environmentalists frequently endorsed Republican candidates such as Newt Gingrich for office. But such endorsements thinned during the 1980s. One Republican member of Congress complains that No matter what I do for the environment, environmentalists will claim it wasn’t enough and will oppose me in the election. So I might as well work for the people who will support me.
