From TR to Dubya
The downslide of the GOP’s stewardship over the environment

Once upon a time there was a political party that took great pride in its environmental initiatives and conservation practices. It was the party that was responsible for signing into law the Antiquities Act, which protects special public lands and has been used by various presidents to establish over 120 national monuments and parks. It was the party that guaranteed for yet unborn generations the enjoyment of such places of natural beauty as Yellowstone National Park, The Grand Canyon, Glacier Bay, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Death Valley, and countless other national parks.

Its leaders saw fit to lay down a 37-point anti- pollution framework upon which many of today's environmental laws are based. Its philosophy was best summed up by one of its well-respected leaders who believed, "The rights of the public to the natural resources outweigh private rights and must be given first consideration." That speaker, you may be surprised to learn, was Theodore Roosevelt and his affiliation, none other than the conservative Republican Party.
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