The economy or the environment: Yes

There seems to be a lot of debate right now--not all of it civil--with regard to matters of the environment, greenhouse gases, etc. The economy has many people questioning the extent to which we should be spending resources on "green" initiatives when so many companies are bleeding red ink and slashing jobs. Al Gore spoke on Capitol Hill in January, which drew intense criticism from people who are as extreme to the right as they perceive Mr. Gore to be extreme to the left. And here in Minnesota, the convergence of a recently-passed constitutional amendment to fund clean water and the arts has drawn fire of its own, now that the state's budget is written in red.

Frankly, I am frustrated by it all. Neither the economy nor the environment are helped by people on the outer edges of their political persuasion. And both parties offer sound reason with the arguments for their side of the issues. It is neither viewpoint I take issue with; it is when either party offers an ear-less, automated, contentious response to the other. I wish our "leadership" could regain their dignity and manners; and I wish the rest of us would grasp that good morsels exist, even in opposing opinions. Anyone who thinks the other side is absolutely wrong... is absolutely wrong.

You know what would help? If I could just get a few of these politicians and pundits out on a kayak... or to take a walk on a trail along the river. Not with the idea of talking them into funding or anything like that, but just to get them to shut-up for a minute... and listen. To water, to wildlife, to the wind as it whispers through trees... maybe even to each other.

In his "Nature" essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that, "...all natural objects make a kindred expression, when the mind is open to their influence."

Both the economy and the environment need some very serious help right now. If sanity prevails, and truly long-term thought is applied, neither issue will be ignored under the pretense of solving the other.

© 2009 Mike D. Anderson, Crystal, MN.

A response from the Senate

Last week, I received an email from Senator Ann Rest, that indeed she will be introducing a plastic bag recycling bill during the current legislative session. A version of the measure is also on its way to the House. Using the legislative website, we can track the progress of the bill once it has been introduced. When it gets to that point, I'll share links to information here.

Plastic shopping bags are #2 on my “most wanted list,” when it comes to floatable pollution which would be more easily prevented than recovered. (Plastic bottles and fountain cups are #1, and Styrofoam containers are #3.)

Thank you, Senator Rest, and thanks to your colleagues. I hope you’ll let me know if you need photos of spillways which deliver this kind of debris to our waterways.

© 2009 Mike D. Anderson, Crystal, MN.