California's Right to Protect Air Quality Endangered

News and Opinion for Democrats Against Bush - Part I b

California's Right to Protect Air Quality Endangered

" Today, many Californians may think the question of states' rights merits a second look. Beset by the nation's most dangerous air pollution, they might wonder why 35 million of us here on the West Coast must cede control of the problem to conniving lobbyists and lawmakers thousands of miles away.

It is not an idle threat. Congress at this moment seems caving in to an assault on our state air quality standards. It comes from a well-financed industrial front stretching from the automakers of Detroit to lawn mower manufacturers in Missouri. "

SignOnSanDiego.com

Do states' rights end with breathing?

Lionel Van Deerlin
Van Deerlin represented a San Diego County district in Congress for 18 years

November 19, 2003 .

The complete article is currently (3/25/04) available on the San Diego Tribune website at-- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/vandeerlin/20031119-9999_mz1e19deerli.html

Opening words--

States' rights? We once heard those words mainly from demagogues. "States' rights" became the watchword justifying a right to charge poll taxes, a right to educate only certain children – even an occasional right to administer justice from the limb of a large tree.

States' rights was then an artful dodge, a way to perpetuate the inequalities that took our forebears to war in 1861.

Today, many Californians may think the question of states' rights merits a second look. Beset by the nation's most dangerous air pollution, they might wonder why 35 million of us here on the West Coast must cede control of the problem to conniving lobbyists and lawmakers thousands of miles away.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/vandeerlin/20031119-9999_mz1e19deerli.html

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