To the Editor:

Dear Senator White,

Dear Representative Cook,

There is great danger that regulations to save our environment from destruction will be scrapped on the altar of short term gains which include the sacred idols of economic growth, employment and the state’s budget.

I am sure you have heard many arguments from both sides, please allow me to give you my perspective.

Few will reap the alleged economic benefit while the cost of environmental degradation is born by a much larger number of ordinary N.C. citizens.

It is very doubtful that environmental destruction will lead to prolonged prosperity for the people and a balanced budget. From experience we have learned that the financial gains of destroying local economies which depend on healthy natural environments, i.e. fishing, farming, tourism, by and large end up in the pockets of out-of-state conglomerates, which will leave again, once they find greener pastures elsewhere.

An exception to this seems to be the local landowner, who wants to utilize his/her property to the water’s edge (do away with buffers). However this is only a superficial gain as the cost of such “maximization” includes both increased erosion, and therefore loss of future profits for said landowner, as well as decreased usability of the waters by other users, fishermen, tourism industries, etc.  Once that loss has been realized, the public coffers usually end up footing the bill of cleaning up the problems created.

One might argue that this eternal up and down creates ever new opportunities and employment. Maybe, but it comes at an ever increasing price tag (legacy cost) for future generations. Eventually, even the sovereign state will have exhausted its ability to finance such endeavors. Even if it was true, that our current well-being can only be assured through unfettered destruction of our natural environment, it leaves the question whether our, especially your responsibilities as a legislator, who is elected by today’s populace, is primarily to your contemporary constituents or also includes acknowledgment of our impact on future generations. My contention is that, in (eastern) N.C. we have had the opportunity to enjoy a relatively clean natural environment, which is still pristine compared to pretty much everywhere else along the east coast. I think we owe it to future generations to preserve it as much as we can, so that they too may have the opportunity to enjoy it. If we don’t, we’ll leave a legacy resembling a northern New Jersey shore or Myrtle Beach or Miami or some other awful situation. Personally, I think we need to enable the current population to become parents and grandparents who can proudly show their children and grandchildren how beautiful, healthy and prosperous living in a natural environment can be.

Furthermore, the above named indigenous industries, usually considered small business operations, make a significant contribution to North Carolina’s economy, provide employment, and quality of life. They should begin preference over larger corporate sized operations with fewer if any roots in the local communities.

I have set high hopes in you, please provide the leadership to steer us into a livable future.

ULRICH ALSENTZER, M.D.

Belhaven