While on Air Force One to Miami, President Obama should take fifteen minutes to read yesterday's decision by US District Judge Alan S. Gold. Then he should make a single phone call: to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Heads should roll at EPA.
In a contempt ruling against the State of Florida and the EPA on failing to clean up the Everglades according to provisions of the Clean Water Act, there is only contempt, no accountability. Accountability is the one place where President Obama could actually do some good for the Everglades, right now, with that call from Air Force One. Order Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, to clean house and remove regional officials who are responsible for the Everglades mess detailed by Judge Gold. Do it now. Do not delay. Fire the SOB's. Now.
I won't go into a lengthy diatribe about the EPA and its sham hearings around the state that will likely end up as more and more delay for numeric standards for nutrient pollution. The EPA problems and "politics" didn't start yesterday or even the day before: former EPA Administrator Carol Browner and former Senator Bob Graham bear their share of historical mistakes in the Everglades. What came later, under Bush appointees, was truly horrendous: the EPA surrendered wholesale to the State of Florida and the nonsense that industries self-regulate better than regulations. (For that, thank Jeb Bush.)
Today, under a president who had the full support of the nation's environmental community, the abuses of the EPA are still institutionalized. That's unforgiveable. Read Judge Gold's decision, Mr. President. Heads should roll at EPA. The White House can make that happen with a single phone call; and it would do more than any other single act to signal change we can believe in Florida.
4 comments:
Very well said, Gimleteye! I've been blogging on this one too. Its a mess and threatens to keep on w/o any action taken. Kudo's to the judge.
Yes heads should roll and somebody needs to name names. overpaid bureaucrats playing in the sun and not accomplishing what they're paid to accomplish, and often taking the easy way out. "trying hard" doesn't cut it.
You are right on about this. How do you say it in a photograph. Get the thing to go viral on the Net.
Interesting how the word "accountability" is applied diligently when it comes to environmental issues and actions/inactions a blogger may not agree with, but when it comes to teachers, just let them do their thing without measure of competence or success.
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