Denis exemplifies traditional environmentalists' failures to anticipate the shortcomings of political management. Ironically, they understand the danger of organized interests harnessing government and operating it as an engine of plunder. Yet, they seem to believe that when their guys and gals come to power, green goodness will prevail. Unfortunately, the greens of Denis' generation also denigrate property rights and responsible prosperity. Most of them disdain the positive functions of the market process and entrepreneurship.
People anticipate likely consequences and learn through trial and error.
Within a free economy competitive forces provide rapid feedback, swiftly rewarding successful innovations and punishing failures. These characteristics hold great potential for improving environmental quality. This is the powerful force discounted or neglected by the early greens. Economies, like ecosystems are complex and dynamic, evolving spontaneously, from the bottom up. In stark contrast, the bureaucracies greens seek are largely immune from these evolutionary forces.