New rules governing access for disabled is very good news and one place that is in dire need of improved access is the Parkway.
An excellent article from the Wall Street Journal examining the difference between the response to plans to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil versus the United States, which reveals a significant fact that I was unaware of (regarding the importance of whether government or private enterprise wants to develop oil areas in the outcry from environmentalists), but makes perfect sense in the context of the position on government as held by the environmentalists versus that of private enterprise.
The president of our organization had a letter published today—“What a fine energy mess we’re in”—which reminds us, as we do tend to forget, that the environmentalists have been pretty much in charge of infrastructure development now for a long time, and it is time to look at the results of those policies, which are pretty dismal.
We do have cleaner air and water, and open space is now treasured much more so than in the past and credit is due; but, for the past several decades environmentalist lawsuits have virtually stopped the building of the necessary infrastructure—like dams, canals and roads—to capture and move water and people around our ever growing country.
A new related book is also out—Green Gone Wild—also by a local writer, about how the use of law suits around the Endangered Species Act, has become counter-productive and exists as much now to refill the coffers of the organizations using its regulations to restrict private property owners from exercising their property rights, as to ensure protection of habitat and wildlife.
I've just finished it and it is a great read, and a crucial read, for those of us interested in a balanced approach to protecting and preserving our natural resources.
We really can have it all, booming economies and vibrant natural areas providing sanctuary to wildlife and humans alike.
