Earth’s Pillagers Get This Man’s Vote

* I know even The Times makes mistakes now and then. You made one in the article titled “Who’s Environmentalist? Everyone, Study Suggests” (March 27).

I know the UC Irvine professor who did this study did his best. But talking to only 185 people, a lot of them members of Earth First, the Sierra Club, and other environmentalist groups, sure doesn’t convince me that “nearly everyone” is an environmentalist.

You see, I’m not an environmentalist. No way, no how! I believe human beings are more important than trees, owls, whales or rats. I don’t feel guilty about cutting down a jungle (sorry, a “rain forest”) or filling in a swamp (sorry, I meant “wetlands”) so that people can have homes.

Of course, we don’t have to drive all other species to extinction. But let’s face it--Mother Earth was wiping out life forms long before we humans put our first tire tracks on the planet. (Look what she did to the dinosaurs!) Truth is, this is a savage, hostile planet, and the reason we humans have survived as long as we have isn’t because we have lived in harmony with the environment, but because we’ve learned to exploit it and conquer it.

Of course, your article may still be right--maybe I’m the only Times reader who isn’t an environmentalist. Not!

JORDAN A. SIMPSON

Huntington Beach