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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