While I am a social liberal, I am a fiscal conservative and I actually agree with many Republicans that our government is bloated and inefficient. I support simplification of the tax code, elimination of earmarks and enforcement of term limits. Unlike many conservatives, I also favor an end to corporate welfare and strongly support efforts to cut our outrageous defense budget.
On the other hand, history is replete with evidence that the federal government plays a crucial role in the protection of both civil rights and the health of our natural environment. Big business, driven by greed and focused on profits, has not demonstrated the capacity to protect either the consumer or the environment without oversight by federal agencies. From a naturalists point of view, governmental regulations have been vital to the welfare of natural ecosystems throughout this country and across the globe.
Too often, Americans jump on the bandwagon of anti-government rhetoric without giving proper consideration to the consequences. It is not until they are personally affected by mining disasters, oil spills, polluted water or tainted food that they recognize the need for federal mandates. If we let the corporate world run our environmental policy, we place the health of our citizens and that of our vital natural ecosystems at significant risk.
