People really need to quit beating around the bush on these issues.  Truth be known, the bottom line is which group is better funded and better connected.  The group which believes in development of resources,  or the group which desires to protect the entire planet from man and his activities.  Obviously the loudest and most politically connected, is the environmental lobby.

As one poster said, think globally, not locally.  Local people are not capable of knowing what is best so they need to be controlled  from afar by Government.  I do agree to a point that some people are more concerned with having a job, earning a living and supporting their families and communities than worrying about someone in New York City driving a hybrid car rather than a gas engine.  

But the locals really do not matter to the environmental protection crowd because really, the world would be so much better off if it were not for all of the people needing air, food,  houses, clothes.  They just need welfare