In a new study, a staggering 77 percent of urban “elites”—defined as people with at least one post-graduate degree earning more than $150,000 a year and living in high-population density areas—said they favored strict rationing of energy, gas, and meat to fight the supposed ills of climate change.
The striking figure was revealed in a January study titled “Them vs. U.S.” prepared by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, based on a survey conducted by Rasmussen in September 2023.
“Climate change is clearly an obsession of the very rich and highly educated,” the study’s authors wrote.
The percentage of urban elites (as defined in the survey) who said they favor strict rationing of resources to combat climate change rises to a striking 90 percent among wealthy city-dwellers who attended the United States’ top universities.
By contrast, 63 percent of all Americans said they oppose rationing of vital energy and food resources to tackle climate change.
Further, between half and two-thirds of urban elites said they favor banning things such as SUVs, gas stoves, air conditioning, and nonessential air travel in order to protect the environment.
Too Much Freedom?
Another commonly held view among urban elites is that Americans have too much freedom. Nearly six in 10 say there’s too much individual freedom in the United States, double the rate among all Americans.
“These results confirm what people have long suspected: today, there are two Americas,” the study’s authors wrote. “One is wealthier, more highly educated, and attended the best schools.”
Urban elites (as defined in the study) were also found to be inclined to put much more trust in big government “to do the right thing” and say they have been hurt far less by high inflation than those who are in lower and middle classes.
“This Grand Canyon-sized chasm between where everyday Americans stand on the state of the country, expanding government power, draconian climate change solutions, and Joe Biden’s job performance may partly explain the Donald Trump phenomenon and his high approval ratings among working-class voters, who feel wholly connected with the rebellion against the arrogance of the ruling class elites,” the study authors wrote.
By Tom Ozimek
