But the fiscal crisis will become an excuse by politicians to justify reduced funding for efforts to keep more exotic species from entering our waters, fields and woodlands, even though the damage they do will continue long after our financial ship is back on an even keel.
The buyout will mean less money for federal environmental projects, such as fixing problems in the Great Lakes and the Everglades, and less trickle-down to state governments for projects that use matching grants.
We'll be so focused on the short-term problem of keeping the economy from collapsing that people who want to do things that will harm the environment will have a field day. The economic mess will become an excuse to open more public lands and offshore waters to oil drilling, even though that won't do anything to lower the cost of the gasoline we buy for our cars.
Some thinkers say only wealthy societies can afford environmental protection. Actually, it's societies who plan to be around a while, and believe they must provide for those who will come after. What's happening to that belief?
Comments