Savvy environmentalists work
both sides of the political street, rather than buying into any
particular political party or ideology. I’ve concluded this after
watching a dispute play out here in Oregon.
The
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation have proposed
building a gambling casino in Cascade Locks, a small town smack in
the middle of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The
project calls for 500,000 square-feet of destination resort and
casino plus hotel, convention facility, spa, shops and parking for
3,600 cars. The increased traffic could require construction of a
new interchange on an interstate highway.
Located on the
banks of the Columbia River in the heart of the gorge, the casino
complex would not be far from a popular trailhead, which hikers use
to access the Hatfield Wilderness, and it would likely be visible
from portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Opponents
also raised concerns about how the development might affect air
quality, wildlife and the Historic Columbia River Highway. Even
though he is usually sympathetic to environmental concerns,
Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski gave state approval for the
casino. But opponents haven’t given up; environmentalists joined
with others to form the Coalition for Oregon’s Future. If you’re a
liberal, hang onto your hat, because the groups making up the
coalition include two flagships of the state’s Christian Right: the
Oregon Family Council and the Parents’ Education Association, each
of which opposes gambling on moral grounds.
This was wise
strategy by the greens, particularly since the political pressure
point in the casino controversy is George Bush’s Interior Secretary
Dirk Kempthorne, who would have to approve a “fee-to-trust
transfer” of tribal lands to allow the casino to become a reality.
If only the environmental movement as a whole was as well
schooled in realpolitik as the opponents of this
casino-in-the-gorge development. Although liberal Democrats may now
be ascendant in Congress and Oregon’s statehouse, we all know that
nothing in politics is permanent. So long as the environmental
agenda depends upon the dominance of liberal Democrats, we lose
ground when the political pendulum swings back to the right. And
even when liberals are in power, they may not always be our
friends. When political advantage beckons, some betray
environmental values.
To survive in our polarized
political landscape, outdoor advocates need to remain sufficiently
unaligned so that we’re free to forge alliances with liberals,
moderates or conservatives as the situation dictates. We can’t
afford to write off any legitimate political blocs, even some that
may cause liberals to hold their nose.
Which brings me to
“World,” a conservative Christian magazine that usually spouts
opinions sure to curl the toenails of any liberal. But in its March
6, 2004 issue, columnist Gene Edward Veith argued that the
Christian Right and environmentalists were natural allies in the
fight against cloning. As a pragmatist, he said he recognized that
creating such an alliance would require a certain amount of
political back scratching: “We may have to give them some
concessions and support them on some issues in return. For example,
they are concerned about endangered species. And while this can be
easy for us conservatives to mock, Christians, having a high view
of creation, might pause.”
That opens the door, and I’m
willing to take a cautious step toward it. My goals for Oregon and
the West are clean air and water, pure food and a healthy landscape
awash in wildness. I’m not particular how we get there. If smart
environmental politicking calls for sidling up to lefties on one
issue and to righties on another, I can live with that.
I
don’t know about you, but my mailbox includes a steady stream of
solicitations from local, regional and national environmental
groups. My message to environmental fund-raisers is simple: “Want
to earn my support? Then make sure your group transcends
conventional partisan boundaries and avoids political correctness
like the plague. If you’re just grinding an ideological axe, count
me out. But if you put environmental values before political
purity, I’ll reach for my pocketbook.”
Bill
Cook is a contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of
High Country News in Paonia, Colorado (hcn.org).
He writes in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
