The excerpt of Michael Grunwald’s “The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise” can be an example of conservation policies for the future and also an example of the struggle between conservation of nature and man. The excerpt starts as a David vs. Goliath type of story with a small environmental group with little support money trying to save the “only everglades in the world” against the building of the Homestead Airport along with acceptance of the bill through numerous politicians. This story is a great example of the struggle of conservationism vs. urban development all over the country and especially in Florida. We need to realize what is more important to us, housing and development or conserving our ecosystem, there has to be a line drawn somewhere.
After reading this excerpt I was also in favor for the restoration of the Everglades and against the building of the Homestead Airport. As the author brings up a good point in that there is only one Everglades, which is not worth taking for granted in favor of an airport, strip mall, or housing sub-division. This is something we’ve probably all recognized while living in Florida, especially during the housing boom. Do we want to put the ecosystem in danger so developers can build more and more sub-divisions and golf courses and attract a constantly growing population? This excerpt also made me realize all the political nonsense that environmentalists need to go through just to conserve the planet we all live in. Again, like in Leopold’s excerpt, it is a classic example of conservation vs. economics.
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