Two nights ago, I was interviewed on CNBC about my organization's efforts to reduce wiretapping. In the middle of the interview, the host took a call from a clear conservative. If you are for reducing wiretapping, then you must be for terrorism. Conservatives get nailed with that broad brush every day when it comes to the environment. Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Conservatives see people as a part of nature.
Liberals see people as the enemy of nature. Environmental policies over the past several decades, while the Democrats have been in charge of Congress, have illustrated just that view. In that time, we have seen more regulations, more government control over federal lands and private property, higher taxes, and lower involvement of the private sector. Today, if you strike oil on your land, the value of your property goes up. However, if you find an endangered species on your land, your property value plummets.