“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do
ye even so to them: for this is the law of the prophets.”
–Matthew 7:12 (KJV)
That’s the way we
grew up reading the Golden Rule in the Bible. But in our Southern vernacular,
we often say it this way: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Treat
people as you want them to treat you. Regardless of your religious beliefs,
that is a good rule for life.
But
hold on.
A
modern-day adaptation on the traditional “Golden Rule” has two greedy twists. One
variation is “Do unto others before they do unto you.” You might laugh, but
that’s not funny. Some people actually think that way.
Another
spinoff is “He who has the gold rules.”
You won’t find those words in Matthew or anywhere else in the Bible. But where
you will find that greedy twist is in politics and the sausage works of
lawmaking. You see it in Atlanta and in Washington. No clearer examples are
laws—made or canceled—which pertain to the environment.
When
you read about how-in-the-world-did-that-happen laws, all you have to do is
follow the money. Polluters pump “gold” through their lobbyists to get laws
written and passed so they can “rule” over their own destiny with a public-be-damned attitude.
Watch what’s
going on right now in Washington with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). If the acting director, Andrew Wheeler, is confirmed, the EPA will
become the Environmental Polluters Association. Wheeler has made it clear that
deregulation is on the top of his agenda. As a former coal-industry lobbyist,
he will swing the doors open to an anything-goes approach.
Who wins in
that scenario?
Listen.
Can’t you hear
the “Golden Rulers” clicking their heels?
And when
Wheeler gives them their way, you will hear this public-be-damned bunch snickering,
all the way to the bank, putting greed over the common good.
Do I need to
mention who loses?
My generation
has more days behind us than ahead of us. I am not worried so much about me. If
I stop breathing tomorrow, I can’t complain. My life has been full, but I’d
like more time with my family and friends. My major concern is for the
generations behind the Baby Boomers, especially those not yet born. Don’t they
deserve a chance to live in a less-polluted world? Aren’t clean air and safe
water important?
You would think
so. But why would Washington put a fox, Andrew Wheeler, in EPA’s hen house?
The answer lies
in the “Golden Rule,” but not the one
in the Bible.
dnesmith@cninewspapers.com
