Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Imitating King Canute (the Pork Barrel Polka)


The legend of KING CANUTE, who reputedly taught his courtiers he could not make the sea recede, a lesson that modern Florida needs to learn.


Like the legend of King Canute, our local governments act as if we can make the ocean recede, perpetually dumping sand on turtle nesting habitats, enriching the companies that own the dredging equipment that pumps sand on our beaches.

This makes for reliable political contributions to the likes of icky, angry, right-wing 16-year Republican Congressworm JOHN LUIGI MICA.

But what does this unending round of of "beach renourishment" say about our dedication to protecting nature? What does it say about our hubris?

We need a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway, a place where these beachy decisions will be based on sound science and reasonable planning -- instead of Republican rhetoric, sung to the tune of the Pork Barrel Polka.

No comments: