Charger Opinion

Bush’s outlook on the U.S. of A. environment

Holley Roberts, Charger Staff

Maybe there is no question about the Bush administration’s environmental policy, and maybe that is because it does not have one. Besides, with all the hype over war, oil, and special interests, who has time to think about the land we walk on, the water we consume, or the air we breathe? Really, this country has more important issues to tackle.

Never mind that big industries tend to control the EPA and that President Bush is afraid to take a stand for the environment because he might look weak doing so, or maybe he simply does not care enough to truly consider the issue. Whatever the reasoning, his administration has an impressive repertoire of disregard for the natural world.

In his cliche-ridden State of the Union Address, the President said that we need is better technology instead of stricter emissions standards.
What a crock! If we’re going to get anywhere, don’t we need both? Sadly, that comment was pretty much the crux of the matter for him, and little else was said about it.

Aside from his apparent apathy for the subject, Bush’s administration is taking great strides in the wrong direction at almost every turn. It wants to hand over environmental responsibilities to the state rather than deal with them nationally. In other words, it wants to pay the states to do its homework. The problem with this is that the states have proven their inability and unwillingness to uphold this job in the past.

In addition, the administration is working to undercut the Clean Water Act by removing certain natural areas from its protected list. Most appalling is its attempt to ax the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires public participation and awareness about key environmental decisions.
The reasoning behind these blows stems from industry’s cry to deregulate highway construction, offshore drilling, and logging. The lists of broken campaign promises goes on and on.

To end on a positive note, hope does exist. This hope may not be fulfilled immediately, but the 2004 election may see someone promising into office. Technology is advancing; the first emission free hydrogen fuel cell car has been approved.

If only everyone, especially the puppeteers up top, will endorse this invention, we may find ourselves smack in the middle of a technical revolution that could reverse a world of damage and put us on the right track to environmental health.