And rarer still is original political action that enlarges, rather than blights or destroys, human possibilities. Satisfying unlimited demands through limited means is society's most fundamental challenge. Our political system has great leverage in determining whose demands will be met. From second-hand smoke to intellectual property, elected and appointed public officials make decisions that profoundly impact both the way we live our lives and our quality of life.
Decisions involving the environment are no exception.
Certain sectors of society have clearly recognized the importance of the political process and have taken steps to enter this arena. Environmentalists need look no further than the industrial community for examples of groups that have benefited from sophisticated political strategies. Chemical, logging, nuclear and automotive industries have developed means to ensure that their priorities are represented at all legislative levels. Collectively, environmental organizations and concerned citizens have protected our air, water, and wilderness using a variety of approaches. The regulatory and judicial processes, public education and outreach, direct action, and ballot initiatives are venues through which environmentalists have achieved landmark victories.