CONSUME LESS YET LIVE BETTER, PROTECT ECOLOGY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 27, 1992                   TAG: 9202270468
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
CONSUME LESS YET LIVE BETTER, PROTECT ECOLOGY
PRESIDENT Bush's plan for economic recovery is fundamentally flawed in several ways. First, he focuses heavily on economic growth and advocates measures to stimulate consumption as well as industrial expansion.
This kind of growth necessitates cutting more forests, digging more mines and burning more petroleum. Already, biologists estimate that humanity appropriates about 40 percent of the Earth's annual photosynthetic production by green plants.
There is a third path: a steady-state economy based on principles of ecological sustainability and social justice. As a nation, we can consume less, yet live better and provide meaningful employment for all.
Second, President Bush calls for a deep cut in capital-gains taxes. This can only encourage the kind of speculative financial transactions that have given us junk bonds, leveraged buy-outs, hostile takeovers and the savings-and-loan crisis. It would not significantly help the middle class, but would give alms to the rich at the expense of the poor.
Third, the president urges elimination of trade barriers and reaching free-trade agreements with other nations. This sounds like fair play, but serious consequences lurk behind what is being called "free trade." Why import from Chile foods that can easily be grown in the United States? Why should Japan be required to buy U.S. cars, or vice versa?
Many large U.S.-based corporations are moving their operations south of the border where labor is "cheap" - i.e., exploited at something like $2 per day. "Free trade" agreements facilitate such moves, which in turn will aggravate poverty and fan the flames of civil wars in Latin America, and throw thousands of people in the United States out of work.
The president did not once utter the words "ecology," "environmental protection" or "conservation" during his entire 45-minute address. Surely, ecocide through unbridled economic growth has replaced nuclear war as the No. 1 threat to the United States and to the human species. MARK SCHONBECK CHECK

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB