Posted under Chesapeake Bay
Yesterday, I attended the Maryland Environmental Legislative Summit at St. John’s College here in Annapolis. The highlight was a speech from Congressman Elijah Cummings on the importance of moving forward with efforts to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, even in the face of challenging economic and political circumstances.
The was recently a lot of publicity about a poll which suggested that Marylanders are more interested in jobs and the economy than restoring the Chesapeake. The question itself sets up a false choice. We need to aggressively address both issues.
Congressman Cummings ended his speech with this quote (which I believe originated at the 1988 Democratic National Convention):
I’m tired of sailing my little boat, far inside the harbor bar. I want to go out where the big ships float, out on the deep where the great ones are. And should my frail craft prove too slight for waves that sweep those billows o’er, I’d rather go down in the stirring fight than drowse to death at the sheltered shore.”
We’ve got to go out, my friends, where the big boats are.
Congressman Cummings is sponsoring The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009 which would set and enforce a total maximum pollution budget for all states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. You can read more about this important bill here.
2 Responses to “Where The Big Boats Are”
Skout on 03 Feb 2010 at 10:52 am #
I’ll admit up front to not really knowing who you are, but good luck in your campaign all the same.
Correct claim to the quote used by the Congressman belongs to Jesse Jackson, and while quite inspiring, it’s not really apt when anticipating a decision between conservation and the need for jobs. Picking “both” is the typical politician’s position, and reveals the willingness to spend money on things we might like but cannot afford.
There’s a lot of people needing jobs in Maryland right now, but I don’t think the work that needs done in the Bay is going to put any significant portion of them to work.
When the people say they’re more interested in the economy than saving the Bay, don’t you think it’d be wise to listen to them, rather than translate it into something you’d rather hear?
Judd Legum on 04 Feb 2010 at 4:04 pm #
Skout:
Thanks for your comments.
I do think that people are genuinely more interested in the economy than saving the Bay. I just don’t think the two issues are mutually exclusive.
Obviously, the State always must deal with more than one issue at a time. Jobs and restoring the Chesapeake Bay would both be near the top of my list.
Not all steps that would improve the health of Bay requiring spending additional state revenue. Also, there are programs that could be put in place that would improve the health of the Bay and create jobs. (For example, the existing funding for upgrading of homeowners septic systems.)
Looking foward to continuing the discussion.
– Judd