Bay Daily readers have heard this before: When it comes to clean water and restoring the Chesapeake Bay, the public is way out in front of the politicians.
Most recent case in point: A statewide public opinion survey of registered Virginia voters conducted by Christopher Newport University (CNU) and released this week. The poll clearly refutes much of the anti-environmental rhetoric emanating from Washington, D.C., and some state capitals.
One Virginia congressman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, even sponsored a budget amendment a few months ago that called for an end to all EPA and other federal spending for the new Chesapeake Bay cleanup initiative. Think about that: a member of Congress from one of the key Bay states publicly calling to cut off all federal funding to restore the Bay, a treasured natural, cultural, and historic resource and arguably the region’s most important economic engine – if it weren’t already so polluted.
While Rep. Goodlatte’s amendment failed to make it in the last-minute budget resolution approved by Congress, most observers fully expect him and like-minded colleagues to propose similar legislation in the coming days. Their anti-EPA/anti-environmental agenda hasn’t changed.
Contrast this agenda with the view of most Virginians reflected in the CNU polling. The survey asked Virginia voters how important environmental issues are to them, and an overwhelming majority (90 percent) said such issues personally matter to them.
Several other poll responses ought to be eye-openers – or alarm bells – for our elected representatives.
• Asked if environmental protections are good for the economy, most (57 percent) Virginians said yes.
• Asked if environmental protections should be given priority even at the risk of curbing economic growth, nearly half (48 percent) of voters said yes; only 34 percent said no.
• Asked if they agreed that “environmental regulations save businesses money and add to their profits while also reducing pollution,” 51 percent said yes.
• Asked if they thought “environmental regulations are burdensome to businesses and kill jobs,” only 26 percent agreed.
• Asked if they were more likely to buy products or services from a company that attempts to be environmentally conscious, 81 percent said yes.
And most telling for skittish politicians at all levels of government is this question that cuts to the heart of the state’s biggest environmental issue:
“Virginia recently released a plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay by reducing pollution that goes into the Bay. For some people this could mean higher fees – higher sewage bills, for example. Would you say you generally favor paying higher fees to clean the Bay, or do you generally oppose paying more to clean the Bay?”
The response of Virginia voters across the state: 62 percent favor higher fees, 31 percent oppose.
It’s time either for the politicians to catch up to the voters…or for voters to catch up with the politicians. If you’re among the majority of Virginians, and likely the majority across the Bay region, who want clean water and clean air to be government priorities, better stand up and be heard. Other interests with very different agendas clearly are already exerting their considerable influence in Congress. Conservation voters and other environmental advocates simply must speak up as well. Otherwise, we will get the air and water and Chesapeake Bay we deserve -- and they will likely be dirty.
Check out these other blogs that eloquently describe what’s at stake (Congressman Goodlatte and You; The Picture of the Chesapeake They Don't Want You to See; Earth Day: Reality Bites). And let Bay Daily know what you’re prepared to do to stand up for the Bay.
As they say, if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.
Chuck Epes
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
I totally agree with you... so far so good, you have one of the most educative posts,. I'll rate you 80 % of my personal rating... keep the good work....
Posted by: קופסאות קרטון | 07/30/2011 at 12:49 AM