The Greening Of Conservative America

By John Ross Edward Bliese

Book Overview

Is "conservative environmentalism" an oxymoron? Is more environmental regulation good for business? The Greening of Conservative America contends that the adherents to any well-considered conservative political philosophy should, on first principles, support pro-conservation, pro-environment policies. Furthermore, and pragmatically, Bliese demonstrates with repeated examples how environmental protection policies actually benefit business by stimulating greater efficiency and innovation and by spurring the creation of green products and services for new markets around the globe. These ideas are applied in chapters on specific environmental issues, including pollution, global warming, biodiversity, public-land management, and sustainability. The book concludes with criticisms of "free-market environmentalism" and calls conservatives back to their root principles on matters of the environment. Concerned citizens of any political persuasion will find much in this book to inform their views on public debates over environmental issues and policies.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813338026
• ISBN13: 9780813338026
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A Breath of Fresh Air!

Not since Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" has the case for environmental protection been presented in a manner that could compel even the most apathetic citizen to sit up and take note. Extremely well written, well researched, and well argued, this book dispels a number of common myths and provides fresh and impressively documented arguments for conserving and protecting the environment. Nothing new, you say? It is when the case for environmental protection is made from (surprise!)a traditional conservative perspective! "The Greening of Conservative America" is an enjoyable, educational, and inspirational read. One can only hope that Bliese's fellow conservatives pay it some heed, for the sake of generations to come.

Conservative criticizes conservatives

Conservative criticizes conservatives for not protecting the environment"We have also seen that the current anti-environmental stance of many politicians and pundits is entirely unacceptable because it violates fundamental conservative principles." page 263John R. E. Bliese (The Greening of Conservative America, Westview Press, 2001) is not the first to claim that conservatives should be conservationists, but no one has done the job as well as he has. In contrast to the usual ignorant nonsense that is promoted as conservative "environmentalism" (for example Peter Huber's Hard Green) the book is well researched, well written, and for the most part well argued . ContentsIn the first chapter Bliese tackles three myths about the environmental movement; that environmentalists are anticapitalisrs and leftist, that they are pagan nature worshipers, and that environmentalism is just gloom and doom. He then takes on the myth that conservatives should be for business no matter what. Bliese claims that this being for business is what has turned many conservatives into anti-environmentalists. This is a gross oversimplification, but then charting the growth of anti-environmentalism would probably take an entire book. Chapter two demolishes the environment versus the economy myth In chapter three Bliese presents nine conservative principles that are related to environmental protection. Using numerous quotes from conservative thinkers Bliese makes the claim that conservatism requires caring for the environment. The next six chapters look at various environmental problems and possible solutions. Chapter four covers pollution. This is very good, except that Bliese uses "cancer clusters" as proof of harm from toxic chemicals. Almost all of these clusters are the result of the random distribution of cases, and cannot be proven to be caused by toxic chemicals. Chapter five looks at issues involving public lands. His reccomendations are almost totally the reverse of what conservatives usually recommend, especially the so-called "wise use" movement. He notes, for example, that livestock grazing on public land adds an insignificant amount to both the economy and the food supply, while causing great environmental problems. And he notes that wilderness, preserved as wilderness' is far more valuable than the resources that could be extracted from them. Chapters six and seven cover global warming. Yes, it is real, according to the best scientific research, and it will cost far less to prevent it than to deal with the consequences. Chapter eight covers endangered species, including how the Endangered Species Act can be improved. Chapter nine covers sustainability. Chapter ten looks at "free market environmentalism" an idea that is very popular with some libertarians. Bliese ask if FME is "environmentalism for conservatives?". The answer is a decided no. Among the faults is a good idea (private conservation of land) taken to a bad extreme; the elimina