Public section/private sector solutions: Summary and commentary

People interpret data in many ways. Three themes are worth considering. First, the data suggests that differences of opinion are likely to frustrate deliberations about environmental issues. Groups of people do not agree. They have conflicting senses of what is and what ought to be. Second, their perceptions are inconsistent. They don't like governmental intrusion into their lives, for instance, except for that which is needed to improve the quality of the environment. Third, the data generated in that study suggests that people are self-centered. That finding is not novel. But it reminds us of the hard reality that people look to their own interest and expect others to give in on policy issues.