Although the economy is tanking (no pun intended if that made you think of the cost of gasoline), Americans say by a 49 percent to 42 percent margin that they favor protecting the environment even if it’s at the cost of economic growth, according to a Gallup poll conducted March 6-9. The margin of error is 3 percent. That represents a steep drop from the 55 percent to 37 percent pro-environment stance of Americans a year ago, but Gallup says given “record prices (of gasoline) and the general perception that the U.S. economy is experiencing a recession, it is somewhat surprising that Americans continue to say protection of the environment should be given priority.”