'Everyman' and his Environment.

Although we have accumulated much factual data on environmental conditions, interrelationships, and consequences of actions, our decisions are based on political expediency, pressure, mob action, and emotion. Believing that decisions regarding the environment and pollution control are not technical but socioeconomic, crusaders have refused guidance by competent technical persons. Many erroneously believe that environmental problems can be reduced simply to laws, regulations, and prohibitions. Another problem is in our traditional approach to problems, which tends to ignore or lose sight of basic objectives. Proof of this is gained by an analysis of any of the environmental programs. There is a lack of definition of the terms ecology, environment, and pollution; legislative and administrative units have defined these in whatever ways they choose. We have no planned environment--rather it is the result of many bureaucratic programs coupled with private interest activities. Pollution can be corrected once there is a definition and the money appropriated to competent persons. True controls are population distribution, availability of food from land and water, and availability of minerals from land, water, and energy. These need competent, extensive appraisal. (Author/JLB)