A balanced view of political gains

I may have my own political persuasion, but I've chosen not to make it a top item in this blog. Why? Because I want Republicans too (oops, I gave it away) to feel comfortable coming here for information.

While current politics prevail, it is clearly Democrats who are most visibly dealing with the environmental agenda in its many facets. And so, the enthusiasm which greeted Tuesday's election results is certainly merited. An email I got from Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club pointed with obvious satisfaction to victories by numerous green Democrats over their non-enlightened, or even obstructionist opponents. Under current circumstances I'm thrilled with the outcome.

But consider this (and I paraphrase from a stirring speech given by Deval Patrick following his election as the new Governor of Massachusetts). The job of the newly elected is not to govern for the winners...but to govern for all. On the environment and sustainability, this is especially relevant, because if we don't effectively engage people across political lines, we will all be losers eventually. Democrats alone will not get the job done. If we cannot motivate people of all persuasions to understand that a healthy and balanced planet is the concern of everyone, then broad scale success will never be possible.

To that end, I invite readers from all persuasions to open your minds to the common ground we all stand on. Realize that within your political frame there exists room for respecting and tending this finite planet. And only by so doing can we ever all win.

I was encouraged when I came across this Action Alert on the web site of the REP, or Republicans for Environmental Protection, just this morning:

The Republican Party must learn from Tuesday's election results by focusing on urgent national problems and rediscovering traditional conservative stewardship.

Republicans for Environmental Protection congratulates our endorsed candidates for the U.S. Senate and House who won November 7 in a difficult year for Republicans. REP also congratulates California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the re-election that he earned through his results-oriented, environmentally responsible administration.

So celebrate the results of our political process, but remember that it all starts with you, with your neighbor, their neighbor, and on and on...

Comments

[Mark Thayer]

Well, since you opened the door into the political arena... There was one major victory this week that should give all envorinmental activists reason to celebrate. On the left coast, Sacramento, 11th District House of Reps, Jerry McNerny, a self-described "renewable energy businessman" defeated incumbent Richard Pombo. Pombo, Chairman of the House Resources Committee, has spent seven terms working hard to undermine environmental protection legislation and open the "wild places" to development by special intersts. This victory is encouraging for all of the obvious reasons but also because it points out the power of education. Several environmental groups were on-the-ground in Sacramento mounting a grass-roots campaign to mobilze voters, and once voters became fully aware of Pombos hidden agenda, they voiced their outrage at the polls.

This victory will resonate all across the country and in fact the planet, since as we all know, everything is interrelated and a breath of fresh air in Sacramento can be inhaled in your own back yard.