Environmental Trojan horse - Learning Alliance seminar - column

National Review, August 4, 1989 by D. Keith Mano

Afterward a young couple took me aside. (I had announced my affiliation with NR during the question-andanswer session."We're Reagan Republicans," they said, "but we'd like to do something about pollution. Why can't we find a conservative organization that sponsors workshops on environmental problems?" In large part, I told them, because the conservative movement has historically perceived environmentalism to be leftist posturing and disinformation.

With good reason: often enough it is just that. In effect, though, control of environmental initiative and rhetoric has been ceded wholly to the Left. With that goes all moral high ground. By implication, fair or unfair (capitalist greed, etc.), the conservative sector is forced to lug blame for Love Canal, for Exxon, for whatever may happen tomorrow. George Bush's clean-air measure was positive but inadequate. It is time for the Republican Party to franchise a high-profile national committee of conservative business people concerned about the environment-and about dispassionate reportage of environmental fact.