Religious Groups Push for Climate Change Legislation

Environmentalism has evolved into the “new” intolerant religion. It controls the media, courts, legislatures, schools, science, politicians and bureaucrats. In short, it has become The State Religion - a theocracy everyone once feared would be Christianity. It’s creed is simple; “All human progress and endeavors are evil. The only acceptable interactions between man and Nature are; Conservation, Preservation, Restoration and Veneration.”

Everyday, across the nation, we all pay for the environmental crusade of the “eco-elite”. When a rancher or farmer is forced to stop or curtail operations for one “environmentally correct “ reason or another we all pay in higher food prices. When a utility company can’t produce power because of concerns about nuclear plants ,or can’t build hydroelectric plants because of a threatened fish or snail, it cost’s us all. When a home builder can’t build homes for a growing nation without spending millions in environmental studies and “fees”, that expense is ultimately borne by the home buyer. Manufacturers of all types products are shackled by huge costs and fees generated by environmental, regulation, litigation and legislation and when you buy your next car, piece of lumber or box of detergent you’ll be paying.

It seems no price is too great for the “Crusaders of Environmental Purity”. That may be true for the Robert Redfords and the Barbara Striesands and other members of the “eco-elite”, but what about the working people laboring under the ever increasing burden of these costs? Try and explain to a family trying to keep food on the table or staggering under medical bills that it was necessary to spend millions of dollars doing studies and building fences and closing roads to protect some weed, insect or salamander!

And, what about the cost in freedom and the human spirit when access to our lakes, streams, rivers and forests is being lost as the result of draconian environmental regulation?

When the eco-elite demand and litigate that roads and campgrounds be closed do we consider that not everyone is a young, healthy member of the Sierra Club, able to hike many miles into the woods to enjoy nature. Isn’t the disenfranchisement of the handicapped, the infirm, disabled veterans, families with young children, the working poor and seniors from the outdoors too high a price to pay?

Is a legacy of closed roads, abandoned campgrounds, fences, outlawed recreational activities, and high fees for what little recreational opportunity remains really what we want to leave future generations?

As with most crusades the environmental movement had well intentioned, perhaps even noble beginnings. But, as they gained power and their dogma became “politically correct” common sense and moderation were replaced by zealotry and intolerance. Now, to say anything against them is blasphemy and political suicide. Think about it, what politician could say even this, “Perhaps the Endangered Species Act and The Clean Water Act need to be moderated in some way.” The environmental lobby would be in the streets and on talk shows. The p.c. media would hold an “inquisition”. The only question would be how to burn the poor devil at the stake in an “environmentally friendly” way.

We must, as a nation, reject the notion that no price in money and personal freedom is too great to pay in order to protect every aspect of nature. We must replace the dogmatic mantras of the eco-elite with a practical, common sense approach that balances the needs of society with environmental respect and concerns. It is my hope that, ultimately, the environmental pendulum will swing back to the middle ground of “environmental consciousness” and away from “environmental correctness”.

Going green has gone too far.

R.L. SCHAEFER of CA 11:06AM November 24, 2009