> ** Proprietary **
>
> just a quick comment...
>
> in andy's most recent creation, he tosses out a flip phrase to the effect
> that the epa "terrorizes citizens."
>
> anybody who really wants to understand what "environmental terrorism"
> really is should bop back and experience the industrial revolution, pre
> 1920s, when greed was good, corpororate "freedom" to foul "private
> property" ran unhindered, and the epa wasn't even a gleam in anybody's
> eye.
>
Dear Visionaries,
In my view, any debate on a public policy is a combination of power, perception,
and knowledge. In this exchange about the environment and the role of
the EPA, I see a number of attempts to shape the preception through
the use of terms freedom, terrorism, and property rights as values (as opposed
to concepts). I would suggest that we not get drawn into a debate of the
perceptions. We are not going to change each other values on these
issues. Nor should we, in my view. Perceptions are an expression of
our values. The manipulation of perception will only pursuade the less thoughtful
and then probably not for long. (Recall Lincoln and fooling some of
the people some of the time, ....) There are those of us would like more
individual freedom, even at the expense of the environment,
and others of us who would be willing to forego some individiual freedom
for more environmental protection. Fair enough.
Let me suggest two ways out of this dilemma. First, knowledge can
be used. From what we know about these types of problems, are there creative
ways to get both individual freedom and environmental protection.
Second, in the areas of perception, there is the possibility of changing
the rank order of values that individuals hold. This makes other institutional arrangements
possible. For example, is individual freedom the only value that is
important to those holding this position? Similarly, is environmental
protection the only value that this group holds near and dear?
Reordering values can make it possible to negotiate pass a deadlock
and still have our values and interests met.
To me, this is the trick.
Steve Cooke
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