Voters across the country will register their political preferences at the polls this November. Photo © AP 2008
We know that our readers are savvy about the political process, both its boons and its pitfalls. We know that you don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and let your elected representatives know your opinions about issues regarding forests, wilderness or threatened species. Even so, we chose to focus on politics in this issue to remind you—and ourselves—of the power of individuals in public office to do great harm or great good.
The environment has never made it to the top of any presidential candidate’s platform, despite the fact that we rely on clean air and water, rich soil and healthy forests for our economy, health and sense of well-being. During the current presidential campaign, the environment has finally surfaced as a significant issue, but it has taken an impending climate change crisis to pressure both candidates to elevate the environment as one of the most pressing issues facing the country.
In politics, environmental advocacy isn’t a one shot deal. Sometimes what looks like a plus for the environment turns out to be a smoke screen for something entirely different. In his 2004 book, Bush Versus the Environment, Robert Devine assessed how the environment fared during President Bush’s first term in office. In “A Dismal Legacy” he updates his findings by taking a look at Bush’s second term, examining how Bush’s policies and judicial appointments will influence environmental legislation for years to come.
In “Eyes on the Prize”, we offer brief sketches of five Senate races where the candidates’ positions on the environment will likely factor into the final vote. Regardless of what state you live in, we encourage you to look closely at the individuals running for office in your town, county, congressional district and state. Look at their previous voting records, if they have them, and ask lots of questions. Who are their financial supporters? What conservation-related issues have they supported or opposed? Who are they beholden to?
Finally, in “All in the Family”, we dip back into history to look at the environmental legacy of two iconic Western politicians—Stewart and “Mo” Udall—and the challenges facing their sons, Senate hopefuls Tom Udall in New Mexico and his cousin Mark Udall in Colorado.
The next administration will face complex environmental issues with consequences that reach far beyond our national borders. It will need elected supporters who have taken the time to understand these issues and their significance. Dig deep. Ask questions. Teach those around you.
Your vote matters.