[Rubber Duckie]

I get into a regular scrap with fellow conservatives because I consider myself an environmetalists (not a wacko) on certain issues, namely:

1. Every river does NOT need a damn dam with a man-made lake behind it to provide taxpayer subsidized playgrounds to the outdoor recreation crowd and floods to those who live downriver when excess water is released during the spring thaw. I used to live downriver from such a dam. Old timers claimed they didn't know what a sandbag was before the dam was put in.

2. There is more to transportation policy than pouring more concrete for highways and sending our soldiers overseas to fight for our right to cheap gas. No, I don't think Washington should force public transit on every burg with more than 50,000 people. Yes, I do beleive urban areas with legendary gridlock (LA, Houston, etc.) should encourage alternatives not only for the sake of those who can't drive cars, but for the sake of those who must who are stranded behind them due to the fact that (1)they shouldn't be driving, (2)their car is so old it breaks down frequently, (3)they work a fairly regular shift which could easily be served by public transit.

3. I think public policies should be geared to reverse rural cleansing rather than support it. Some of your best environmentalists live on the land, rather than in some law office in New York or Portland.

[summer]

Wow, really interesting comments Rubber Duckie! Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts on this thread! :)