Tom,

I supported Al Gore. I am no "abused child," but an informed
environmentalist and citizen. I looked at both the issues and the political
reality and voted for Al Gore and not Ralph Nader. I read the arguments
from this list, both pro and con, and remained unconvinced that a vote for
Nader would meet my environmental objectives. I agree with many criticisms
of Al Gore and with many things Nader says. However, I believe Al Gore will
make a better president than either Nader or Bush. I accept our honest
disagreement knowing we share many similar goals and values and that we
will be working together in the future to conserve our natural resources
and preserve our environment. Don't dismiss me and other Gore supporters as
"abused child[ren] who refuse[s] to believe that a beloved parent could be
hurting him or her." That is inaccurate and patronizing.

Eric G. Hurley
Ames IA


Go Florida

At 03:59 PM 11/9/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Bill Witt is a good environmentalist, one of our most literate citizens, and
>one of our best writers.
>
>Still, what he argues here is convincing only if we ignore the environmental
>destruction that has taken place under Clinton-Gore; the silence of Gore
>regarding that destruction; and the participation by Gore in that destruction.
>
>Genetic engineering is just one of many issues that make my point.
>
>As I wrote in a letter published in The Des Moines Register today,  "We must
>realize that genetic engineering is a human-made assault on life unlike
>anything before in the 3.8 billion year history of life on earth."
>
>Gore supports the release of genetically engineered organisms to the
>environment, on a massive scale, as has been done in the past four years--as
>millions of acres of farmland have been planted to genetically engineered
>crops. On this issue alone, and there are many others, Al Gore ought to be
>considered disqualified from any expectation of support from
>environmentalists, Sierra Club's endorsement of him notwithstanding.
>
>As to the argument that a Bush win will put at risk the steady, incremental
>progress that we have been making on the environment, well, If you just take
>the time to look around at what's happening--even the polar ice caps are
>melting!!--I'm afraid the earth will not survive much more of that kind of
>steady, incremental progress, as proud as Carl Pope and other Sierra Club
>staff people may be of it.
>
>Now, make no mistake, Al  Gore was my hero back in 1992, after I read his
>book Earth in the Balance. I voted for the Clinton-Gore ticket in 1992
>because Al Gore was Clinton's running mate. Back then I eagerly awaited the
>time when I would be able to vote for Gore for president. But eight years of
>watching the steady march of "progress" destroy my beautiful state (hog lots,
>urban sprawl, highway building, and much more) and learning more about Al
>Gore, have, for me, removed Al from the pedestal he was on.
>
>I can understand how many still support Gore, refusing to believe he is
>anything other than a great environmentalist. It's just like an abused child
>who refuses to believe that a beloved parent could be hurting him or her.
>
>Tom
>
>In a message dated 00-11-09 09:46:10 EST, Bill Witt writes:
>
><< "Drilling Rigs Invade ANWR"  (Where is Al?)
>
>  "James Watt Returns to Interior Department"  (Where is Al?)
>
>  "Bush Rescinds Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument Designation"
>  (Where is Al?)
>
>  "Bush Cancels Clinton Roadless Areas Protections, National Forests Up For
>  Grabs"  (Where is Al?)
>
>  "Supreme Court Upholds 'Takings' Claims"   (Where is Al?)
>
>  "Justices Rule Cost-Benefit Analyses Required Prior to Enforcing Clean Air
>  and Clean Water Laws"  (Where is Al?)
>
>  "US Abandons Kyoto Protocols"  (Where is Al?)
>
>   >>
>
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