Election day is less than a fortnight away and the race, which has been seemingly going on forever, is quite close. Here aresome of the facts that I would like to present to you, the readers, to demonstrate which candidate has a clear vision and action plan regarding issues that we are dealing with in our daily battle to further the cause of sustainability and environmental justice.
(Note: These policies and viewpoints are quoted directly from the candidate's websites.)
Obama:
Build More Livable and Sustainable Communities:
- Reform Federal Transportation Funding
- will re-evaluate the transportation funding process to ensure that smart growth considerations are taken into account
- re-commit federal resources to public mass transportation projects across the country
Restore the Wetlands:
- preserving our wetlands and supports a broad range of traditional conservation programs including the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Wetland Reserve Program in the Farm Bill
- will work with local governments to develop the best strategies for protecting and expanding wetlands
- protecting wetlands dates back to his days as a state senator, when he was a cosponsor of the Wetlands Protection Act in Illinois
- will help the Gulf Coast restore the wetlands, marshes and barrier islands that are critical to tamping down the force of hurricanes and serve as critical fish and wildlife habitat
Strengthen Federal Environmental Justice Programs:
- will make environmental justice policies a priority within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- will work to strengthen the EPA Office of Environmental Justice and expand the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
- will work to provide low-income communities the legal ability to challenge policies and processes that adversely affect the environmental health of low-income and minority communities
Build Healthy Communities:
How a community is designed – including the layout of its roads, buildings and parks – has a huge impact on the health of its residents. For instance, nearly one-third of Americans live in neighborhoods without sidewalks and less than half of our country’s children have a playground within walking distance of their homes. This lack of a safe place to walk and play is a major contributor to the growing numbers of overweight children. Barack Obama introduced the Healthy Places Act to help local governments assess the health impact of new policies and projects, like highways or shopping centers. Once the health impact is determined, the bill gives grant funding and technical assistance to help address potential health problems.
McCain:
Wetlands
- we must develop water resource policies that will protect these important natural assets for the benefit of all
- employing long-term science-based strategies that properly manage strained freshwater resources
- promote polices that will preserve sensitive areas like the Everglades and the Louisiana coastal marshes
Open Space
- Economic development is essential to a strong American economy
- promote responsible growth and encourage state and local officials to implement open space initiatives and establish green corridors within our communities
- will require strengthening federal tools like Land and Water Conservation Fund that emphasizes recreation and the protection of wildlife areas
Yes folks, that's all that Senator McCain talks about in his vision for creating a more sustainable and equitable America. As you can clearly see, McCain's policies are still founded on hyper-capitalist ideals that work against the ideals of sustainability and environmental justice. One of the most important paragraphs in this entry is Obama's views on Building Healthy Communities. Notice in the very first sentence he talks about design.
Can we honestly say that there has been a major political candidate in the past 30-years that has even uttered the word design in reference to the faceless, hyper-capitalist driven sprawl model which America has embraced for so long?
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts." -Abraham Lincoln
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