Evaluating Bush’s Environmental Record

Re “Environmental Whopper,” Oct. 16: Your editorial concerning President Bush’s environmental record was written by someone living in the forests of Spring Street, or perhaps Rodeo Drive. To those of us who live in the Angeles and San Bernardino national forests, and Wrightwood straddles both, we are relieved that a president has stepped forward and stopped the insane preservation policies in our forests that have resulted in the tragedy of this past year throughout the West, as overgrown forests have written themselves off, unable to handle the always possible drought conditions, succumbing to horrendous fires, and locally, the dreaded beetle infestation.

Tom Pinard

Wrightwood

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It is about time someone brought up the environment, the only real issue on which a newly elected president acting unilaterally can have an immediate impact. Even The Times, which I defend vigorously in discussions with my Bush-supporting friends, has been somewhat lax in bringing this issue to the forefront. It is a key area in which our president, through executive action, can bypass Congress, as your editorial points out.

I suspect that on most other issues, including the fight against terror, the war in Iraq and taxes, there will not be much immediate change after this election, no matter who wins. But, if that person is George W. Bush, the effect on our environment for many years to come will be devastating, and in some areas irreversible.

Dan Diederich

Redondo Beach

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If the Bush administration has “quietly rolled back protection” of the environment, as your editorial laments, you have only yourself to blame. The conservative press in this country, which sadly includes The Times, buries these stories in the back pages or doesn’t bother to cover them. The public will never become outraged at the rape of the planet by the puppets for corporate interests that currently run this country if The Times continues to foster their ignorance. The selling of our lands to the highest bidders should be front-page news.

Michael Helwig

Canoga Park