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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: greenspirit who wrote (216188)	1/9/2002 3:28:43 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

Of course I don't disagree with you that the "Environmental Movement" (since the mid-to-late seventies anyway) has exerted some significant political muscle in the developed countries (not so much in the rest of the world)... but that's just one piece of the political puzzle. I believe that the most significant political pull has been (and likely always will be) exerted by those who have economic power: the wealthy, and frequently the corporate wealthy underpinings of our societies. If I am a real estate developer... and I have hundreds of millions to billions invested in hotel properties in beach-front touristy areas... than I don't want to see oil platforms from the balconies of my properties. I will fight politically against the coming of those platforms. One of the oldest rules of local politics is the "not in my backyard" principle. And in the final analysis, all politics is local. If I own 'nose bleed level' golfing developments, or sky lodges... than the last thing I want near me is some smelly petrochemical refinery. And, don't forget, most of the biggest fortunes have been made in real estate... and in several states tourism is one of the top three industries (a good example is Florida vs. Texas). The biggest, baddest battles are those fought between formidable existing capitalist interests... the "environmental movement" may have some real political power, but it is just a terrier biting at the ankles by comparison. If you think otherwise, can you explain why Jeb Bush (and the entire Florida political establishment) opposed oil drilling in Florida waters?