BY MARC DELPHINE

As an Oregonian I want a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. As a Libertarian I understand that private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining this balance. The government, unlike private business, is unaccountable for the damage they do to the environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection.

Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems.

Energy

Energy is needed to fuel a modern society. Yet government should not be subsidizing any form of energy. It needs to compete in an open and free market that rewards new technological advances as we move towards a system based on more renewable and alternative energy sources.

Our current dependence on fossil fuel has led to our involvement in wars throughout the globe, threatened our national security, increased pollution and diverted money that could be spent on finding new clean alternative energy options. A change to cleaner energy is essential to reduce carbon dioxide that comes from fossil fuels in order to protect our environment. Renewable non-polluting fuels need to replace what is currently being used today.

We need to reduce energy consumption, obtain our energy from local sources and use more efficient systems. Government can offer tax incentives on alternative forms of energy production and can lead by example by only purchasing fuel efficient vehicles and replacing outdated energy systems with ones run by non-polluting energy. People will need to change their energy habits by using less energy, purchasing as many products made locally, purchasing efficient energy devices, automobiles and homes.

There will not be a single energy solution; multiple forms of alternative energy will be used to replace our current energy structure but this will take time for a complete and effective change over from fossil fuels.

Endangered Species

The number of species becoming extinct since the Industrial Revolution has no precedent in biological history. This increasing number of species lost can destabilize our ecosystem and put other species in endangerment which in turn may harm the food chain. When government intervenes they negatively affect citizen’s livelihoods and in some cases take the land from the private landowner.

Species evolve and become extinct on a regular basis over the past several hundred million years. Unfortunately over the past 150 years the rate of extinction has threatened our ecosystem. As Libertarians we are concerned and want to ensure that future generations will be able to live in a healthy environment.

Private landowners, conservation groups and other interested parties have a vested interest in protecting species that are part of our ecosystem. Government should not take away private property in an attempt to protect a species. This action will result in extinction by forcing landowners to make a decision over protection of a species or their land.

Animals that were placed on the endangered species list that have recovered must be taken off. Government must develop a private-public relationship to work on solutions. Businesses that depend on natural resources that is in an endangered species habitat need to work to ensure that they are not causing additional damage. If necessary, breaching of dams should not be ruled out in order to help marine life recover from endangered status.

Conservation

As population grows there is an increasing burden on the use of natural resources. Misuse of resources and pollution causes damage to our ecosystem. It is necessary to have clean air, water and soil to have a healthy existence. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. In order to maintain a healthy ecosystem it is important to conserve the amount of resources used and use methods of recycling.

Public lands should be sold to private landowners and conservation groups to protect the resources or use them in a proper manor that does not put the environment at risk to political agendas. Private recycling programs need to be step up in municipalities and rural communities to reuse existing resources to their fullest capacity.

Government can sell land that is currently defined as protected to private conservation groups with contractual agreements that the land must be maintained as is for a specified time period. Government can give tax credits to businesses that use recycled products in their business production. Private and government renegotiations are needed when dealing with use of natural resources that are still publicly owned to ensure that a stable balance is maintained with the environment.

As well any such “Cap and Trade” programs that are established by the government, although noble in their nature, will untimely fail in practice. When there is no incentive to reduce pollution except for punishment, businesses will only reduce just enough to avoid being punished. The trading of carbon credits does not reduce pollution since the purchaser of the credit is still over polluting. Even if levels are dropped, businesses will pass the cost to the consumer, hire lawyers to bring lawsuits and use lobbyists to get the law changed if they exceed pollution levels. By creating incentives through tax credits, businesses will find ways to pollute less.

Many conservation efforts will save consumers money without sacrificing quality of life. Simple things like using compact florescent bulbs, energy efficient devices, home insulation, proper tire inflation and dozens of other changes will add up greatly. By allowing an open free market, technology will offer solutions to the problems we now face today.

Yours in Liberty,

Marc Delphine

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