Why I Support Nader

by Dan Hamburg

Over the past three years, I have become increasingly distressed at the environmental record of President Clinton. While I would certainly expect no better from Bob Dole, I think it's time to assess where we are going, as a movement, and as a civilization. My personal assessment has led me to support Ralph Nader's presidential campaign.

Briefly, let me recount the reasons for my disaffection with the President. His administration is responsible for:

Ą the passage of the "salvage logging rider" that has caused the destruction of ancient (public) forests and critical watersheds;

Ą the signing of the Panama Declaration which undermines protection for marine mammals including dolphins and whales;

Ą the continuation of the use of methyl bromide, a highly toxic pesticide known to destroy the Earth's ozone layer;

Ą the weakening, if not gutting, of the Endangered Species Act through administrative changes in its rules and regulations;

Ą the passage of NAFTA and GATT. These international trade agreements represent the biggest sell-out of American workers in U.S. history. The treaties also effectively remove environmental protections passed by Congress because any legislation deemed to "restrain free trade" can be declared illegal by international tribunals dominated by large-scale corporate interests;

Ą the lowering of grazing fees on public land. Candidate Clinton promised to raise these fees and instead is allowing the American taxpayer to subsidize the cattle industry, overtaxing our people and our land;

Ą continuing to subsidize the sugar industry in Florida which is poisoning the Everglades and diverting large amounts of water needed by wildlife;

Ą opening wildlife refuges to hunting and fishing by Presidential decrees;

Ą weakening the Safe Drinking Water Act by allowing increased levels of lead and arsenic in our drinking water supplies;

Ą reversing the ban on the production and importation of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) which may cause more than 40,000 fatalities in the Great Lakes region alone;

Ą increasing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil by breaking the promise not to allow the export of Alaskan oil.

In my opinion, President Clinton has actually done more to harm the environment and weaken environmental regulations in 4 years than Presidents Bush and Reagan did in 12 years.

It's clear that neither of the major parties comprehended our responsibility to be stewards of our planet. In contrast, Ralph Nader has fought for environmental sanity for the past 30 years. His strong opposition to both NAFTA and GATT were largely founded on environmental concerns. Recently, he has written President Clinton, and placed a full-page ad in the New York Times calling to a debt-for-nature swap in which all 60,000 acres of the Headwaters Forest would be protected. He has also condemned the president's capitulation in signing the "timber salvage rider" and led the fight to save the Tongass National Forest in Alaska from corporate plunder.

Don't waste your vote by blindly following, and fostering, the politics of "lesser evilism." Make your vote count by supporting the national candidate of the Green Party, Ralph Nader.

(Campaign contributions can be sent to: GOTV/Nader for President; POB 3721; Oakland, CA 94609.)

[Return to Index for This Issue]
[Return to Mendocino Environmental Center Home Page]

Webmeister: Dale Glaser
Email: Mendocino Environmental Center
Last Update: 10/6/96