California is once again at the forefront of tackling pollution. Why does it always seem to require California to challenge the way we manage our environment? California has a great tradition of supporting higher education, and that may play a role, but I’m sure that its huge economy is what really gives policy leverage to the state. I don’t think the average American needs to be convinced that limiting the amount of pollutants in our air and water and land is a really good idea. It should simply be policy that industry should prevent pollution as much as possible. And why not? The cost for doing so would be added to the price of what we are consuming. Americans are ready for that, it’s just industry that is fighting it tooth and nail. Why? Because they want more profit, and they get that if their products are cheaper or if they don’t have to spend money to keep their businesses from polluting the environment. But, guess what? You the consumer will still pay in the long run. If our taxes are needed to clean superfund sites, or you have children or elderly relatives with breathing problems that send them to the hospital, your money will find a way out of your wallet to pay for these environmental infractions. There is no free lunch.

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