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.