Category Archives: Environment

This will make you cringe: Wheat farmer faces millions in fines

In June, 2016, I described a Clean Water Act (CWA) case involving a California wheat farmer. A U.S. District Court found John Duarte chisel plowed pasture lands which were considered to be vernal pools even though the pools seldom have water in … Continue reading

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An Unhealthy Obsession with Climate Change

On June 1 came the encouraging news that President Trump has decided the United States will exit the U.N. Paris climate agreement. The agreement imposes huge burdens while producing little or no impact on the global climate.
From the outrage shared by the media, one would think Trump has doomed the world to certain destruction. Signs are clear the noise will continue, in one form or another: In March, just two months after Trump took office, a “Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health” was launched to advise (alarm) the American public about global warming. Continue reading

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Is Capitalism Good for the Environment?

It has been said that capitalism works for a very simple reason – people can be counted on to do what is in their own interest. That has been the basis of human interaction since the beginning of time. One villager would catch fish and sell them to others, which helped the fisherman succeed, but also helped the others, who needed fish. In fact, the only way to make money in a free market is to supply others with something they need, and are willing to pay for. Selfishness does not profit unless it also helps others. Continue reading

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Stop Me If You’ve Heard This

Here is a headline we could have written any time during the past twenty years, and probably any time in the next twenty: Washington Monument Closed Again. Closing the landmark to pressure Congress into giving the Park Service more money … Continue reading

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If I Had a Billion Dollars

If you had $1.2 billion to spend, what would you do with it? Before you answer, there are some strings attached. First, you are required to invest in electric vehicle technology, electric vehicle infrastructure, or something that would result in … Continue reading

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