Michael Grunwald’s article Endgame was a sad depiction of how politics can inhibit necessary action although in the case of the Florida Everglades, the system worked. Overall I was surprised by a lot of the information presented in the article. I was only 13 years old in 2000, so naturally, the politics of the day escaped me, but like most people am aware of the debated election. The political ramifications of Al Gore’s stance on building the Homestead airport prevented him from openly rejecting the idea and ultimately can be seen as the deciding factor of the 2000 presidential election.
Many groups had pledged support for the Everglades restoration project but each with its own demand. The cost of $8 billon itself was a hurdle. The political process required to get enough support was a huge challenge, but due to the critical thinking of Florida environmentalist, was overcome by support of wealthy retirees and the grass-roots movement that their funding provided. Without the lucky flight paths of the planed airport, the entire movement would have been dead in the water.
I think the biggest lesson we can learn from this whole debacle is that we must be careful with our use of land and consider all future implications. Sixty years ago, the locals enlisted the help of the Army Corps of Engineers to drain the Everglades. It was seen as a vast wasteland with potential and as a water source. Today we have seen the effects of our follies and have paid dearly to correct them. Once people settle an area, there will be a lot more opposition to restoration, than there would have been if we just left it alone.
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