Dear Dr. James R. Mahoney, Top Bush Administration Official

As a young girl growing up in the 1970s, I remember that adults seemed very concerned about the future, and even remember a slogan that went something like, "Save the Planet for our Children." It was during the 1970s that scientists were predicting an increase in global warming that could, in fact, be avoided if we citizens began changing our consumer habits and corporations began changing their polluting pratices. I remember the day in 1979 when solar panels were installed on my father's modest suburban house; and I remember the day, five years ago, when he paid to have them removed. "They're ugly," he said. "And the company that made them went out of business, so there is no way to maintain them." Now that I am an adult myself, with a child of my own, I wonder: What happened between then and now? For me, the future is here... but the planet doesn't seem to have been saved.



I'm certainly not blaming you for the fact that solar panels are no longer stylish. But I am wondering how you could just suddenly agree with scientists who have long been aware that "emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases are the only likely explanation for global warming over the last three decades" (*)



I don't understand: your administration has consistently sided with industry on most matters concerning the enviornment, whether it be working to undermine safe drinking water standards or working with oil companies to drill in the beautiful wilderness. This kind of zig zagging is really quite unproductive... it's important that the initiatives taken in previous decades be followed through. Please try and stick with your gumptions here... please continue to agree with scientists.



Many thanks,

Citizen Kay