President-elect Obama has rounded out his cabinet with the announcement this week of appointees for the departments of the Interior, Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
I’m not a single-issue voter, but I certainly elevate the environment to a place of primus inter pares when it comes to the factors I weigh in selecting a candidate for whom to vote. And while the line-up which Obama has presented is not without its flaws, at first glance it seems like a good group. Of course, in the aftermath of the disastrous Bush Administration’s environmental policies (particularly at Energy and Interior) almost anything would look like a whopping improvement. Though like most progressives, I would have preferred Raul Grijalva of Arizona at Interior (rather than the apparent nominee, Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado), I don’t see anyone unacceptable in the lot.
I’m still waiting for the post I care most about: Agriculture Secretary. Considering that animal agriculture produces more carbon emissions than all the jets in the sky, it’s screamingly obvious that agriculture and environmental policy are closely intertwined. Given the coming battles over genetically-modified foods, crop diversity, water policy, animal rights, farm worker rights and so forth, it’s clear that the Ag Secretary will be one of (if not the most) vital players in advancing a progressive agenda on the domestic front. I’m happy to say the Nation agrees with me today!
So far, I give Obama’s environmental team a B. Depending upon whom he selects at Agriculture, that final mark could move up or down one full grade. I know it’s too much to expect Gene Baur, but Michael Pollan would send me over the moon. On the other hand, if Obama picks someone in the pocket of Monsanto, Archer Daniels Midland, or Hormel — then the chance of progress for workers, consumers, the earth and its creatures is much reduced.
