The poll is full of inconsistencies. First it says that most people don't appear to approve of private accounts for Social Security but then it says that most people don't even expect to receive their Social Security!
People think we should protect the environment rather than produce energy. Yeah, right. Just wait until gas goes to $7/gallon or your electric bill triples. People are just idiots when it comes to environmental questions. I heard one congressman say something about not drilling in ANWR because we can drill in the Caspian Sea! Sheesh...drill anywhere but here, eh?
As for the tax cuts, the NYT says most people haven't noticed a change in their paychecks. Perhaps that could because most of the tax cut hasn't even gone into effect. Sheesh...THESE PEOPLE!
Energy vs. environment is another NYT/Liberal false dichotomy.
That most will choose environment shows the question was poor of people were not thinking clearly.
It's a matter of degree in these things. To destroy thousands of species for slightly cheaper energy would be foolish, but that is not the tradeoff.
Drilling in ANWR will do less to harm the environment than the average suburban subdivision. We can have nuclear energy and both improve the environment and reduce energy costs, but that requires opening people's closed minds on the subject.
The real choice is "reason and cost-based economic tradeoffs in policy", or emotionally-charged eco-extremism that disregards balance.