Smog Standards

The Bush Administration continues its war against the environment. Despite unanimous advice from scientists to create tough new smog standards, the Environmental Protection Agency decided to enact only moderate changes that essentially do nothing. To make it worse, EPA head Stephen Johnson wants Congress to change the law so that the EPA can take into account the costs of smog control. While this is the kind of thing that sounds good, what it means is that any environmental law would be thrown out the window in the face of an administration who doesn't want it. This is despite the fact that almost every study shows that increased environmental stringency ends up saving money in the long run, sometimes through a healthier population, but often through forcing companies to be more efficient, thus increasing profits.

I've heard and read in several places that the rank and file employees at the EPA have been extremely depressed since Bush took over. This is the kind of decision that must feel like a knife in the heart for these good people.