Saturday Soapbox -- Whatever happened to the Green Old Party?

As the 20th century dawned, a vigorous Republican Party sparked what became the nation's first "green" movement. At its center stood Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most revered members of the Republican pantheon. The accomplishments of this movement form the foundation of what is considered modern environmentalism. It is perhaps one of the most enduring ironies of the American political and social landscape that our modern conservatives struggle with the movement they helped create.

In our modern times, the union of "conservatism" and "conservationism" has not been an altogether comfortable one. In today's political context, fiscal conservatism is advocated for the actions of the government. Behind this theory is the belief that the more conservatively the government uses tax money, the less it will need to solicit funds from the taxpayers. At the same time, this philosophy also advocates for a smaller government that respects the rights of property owners to develop, spend, conserve, or waste their own property as they see fit.

In his day, Roosevelt became the key figure of his party in response to the environmental excesses of industrial behemoths and the spectacular failures of late 19th century "laissez-faire" policies. As an avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast, Roosevelt understood first-hand that without intervention, future generations would be denied the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of our nation. As a politician, he also understood that increasingly out-of-control monopolies would ultimately spell the doom for thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs struggling to survive.

It was not a difficult stretch for him to see how all of our nation's resources, including a rich bounty of coal, oil, timber and arable land, should be tended frugally to ensure the longest maximum benefit. To that end, his administration pursued a national policy of sustainable resource management. Gifford Pinchot, the founder of the U.S. Forest Service, saw that with careful management, our nation's forests could continue to be profitable for centuries. Though some naturalists of the time argued for more restrictions on use (most notably John Muir), Roosevelt understood that a nation cannot benefit its citizens if it cannot access its own wealth. The legacy of this approach was a nation that continued to grow more prosperous while still protecting millions of acres of natural wilderness.

Today, we struggle with many of the same concerns that were first addressed a century ago. However, this debate is now taking place on a global basis. Our increasingly interconnected world has expanded the impact of resource policy beyond our own borders. In a world where energy usage also has immediate national security implications, it is obvious that we need to exert new leadership on this issue. We must call upon the best minds of the business, industrial, and scientific communities to re-evaluate and re-engineer our resource and energy policies. Considering its legacy in this area, it may be the appropriate time for the Republican Party to retake the initiative.

* Paul Overby lives in Selah.