by J. Bonasia

Free Press Contributor

Over a year ago I interviewed Carol Browner, chief of the Environmental Protection Agency. We had a long, interesting talk about the American environmental movement and the future of our natural resources. We discussed theories of regulations, and the proper role of the government in relation to activists and ordinary citizens. Browner's overall expertise and devotion were impressive, particularly when she concluded our discussion by saying, "The first 25 years (of the EPA) have been about one-size-fits-all. But one-size-fits-all is not adequate for the future. We have to look at specific cases and real people." Those words struck me for the depth of their humanness, coming from the highest environmental official in the land.

So imagine my surprise to notice Browner as the stern, dignified "cover girl" of Forbes magazine (10/20/97), that pillar of publishing for investors and business hawks everywhere. Browner stands with crossed hands before a backdrop of green foliage. The headline blares ominously:

"Watch out for this womanÉ The EPA's Carol Browner is exploiting health and the environment to build a power base."

That about says it all, although "Carol Browner, Master of Mission Creep" by Pranay Gupte and Bonner R. Cohen takes eight pages to do so. Essentially the piece paints Browner as an old-school power broker who is craftily positioning herself for a possible Vice Presidential nomination. The portrait predictably demonizes her for using the EPA as a stepping stone. And in this primitive twisting of logic and plain good sense, the writers blame Browner for "exploiting health and the environment" by protecting them. While throwing darts at Browner, the article also blames the EPA for governmental excess. It is an elaborate story, replete with colorful sidebars and fancy graphics which never acknowledge that few power-hungry politicians start out at grassroots nonprofits like Clean Water Action, as did Browner. In the end, though, the writers grudgingly admit that she is an authentic environmentalist, passionate about her beliefs and her role.

The tone of the article can't quite decide to be fearful or just overtly jealous of Browner's obvious capabilities. This summer Browner was instrumental in pushing President Clinton to support tougher standards on air pollution, against the wishes of many Congressional funders from big business.

In attacking Browner and the EPA, the Forbes piece regurgitates a bellyful of half-chewed conservative arguments, such as governmental bloat ("The EPA is in many ways becoming a state within a state."), cancer is natural ("Carcinogens, of course, abound in nature, ordinary sunlight being one of the most prevalent"), and that old reliable standby, you can't save the environment and the economy ("most local governments, anxious for jobs and economic development, were looking forward to being removed from the list [of pollution violators]").

Getting back to the fearful/jealous tone, the piece sums up the Congressional hearings by quoting none other than Steven J. Milloy, executive director of The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition in Washington, an industry front group and longtime critic of the EPA. Milloy concedes that Browner is, "the best hardball player in the Clinton Administration.

"She has the 105th Congress completely intimidated by her debating skills and her sheer grasp of facts, however questionable," Milloy concludes, "she eats their lunch."

One thing leads to another. Shortly thereafter came in an article in The Nation, "Forbes 400 World Series," about the latest list of the world's wealthiest people, published by that EPA-bashing magazine inherited by Steve "Flat Tax" Forbes. As the rich continue to get richer, 5 percent hold about 60 percent of all net worth in America. The Nation article compares the combined wealth of the current list ($624 billion) to the Forbes 400 of 1982 ($92 billion).

In 1996, Steve Forbes's personal fortune was estimated to be $439 million, and once again Bill Gates checked in as the richest person, at just under $40 billion.

Omens supposedly come in threes; after hearing from the right (Forbes) and the left (The Nation), I heard from the center. On the editorial page of the San Francisco Chronicle syndicated cartoonist Toles drew the cover of Forbes with the headline, "List of 400 Richest Americans." There on the cover is a picture of a tiny camel, with a line of thread in its mouth, leaping through the eye of a needle. Below, the artist's alter-ego quips, "Also: Guide to the Top Ten Take-It-With-You Strategies."

As Christ is said to have said, much to the shock of his apostles, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

And somewhere amidst all this dogmatic rhetoric, I'm sensing a definite moral to the story.

Rebecca's story, "Norplant and the Dark Side of the Law" in the March/April 1997 issue, detailed legislative attempts in Olympia last year to require drug-addicted mothers to submit to Norplant contraceptive inserts to prevent future pregnancies and births of crack-addicted babies.

Not only is Norplant associated with severe side-effects, the Norplant bill suffered from severe Constitutional infirmities--namely the fact that mandatory contraception has long been found to be a violation of the fundamental right of procreation, a violation of informed consent, and a form of battery.

Fortunately this dud of a bill fell short and never passed. However, this was no thanks to the media who seemingly ignored the issue (and several Seattle legislators who shamelessly supported it).

Good job Rebecca!

This is our second Project Censored recognition. Our April 1996 story, "Lettuce Libel", on state food disparagement laws ranked number 13 on their 1996 compilation of most censored stories. Of course, the upcoming Oprah Winfrey trial in Texas on mad cow libel will get lots of media attention. Spike's prediction: the longhorns better get some spin control. Oprah will kick ass in the courts of law and public opinion.

To nominate a story for next year's list, contact Project Censored at Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park CA 94928-3609

Meanwhile, Project Censored just released 20 Years of Censored News (Seven Stories Press, $24.95), a compilation of undercovered stories since 1976. Not only is this book full of great media criticism, it's full of history from the 1970s and 1980s. Sure, 1976 was the election of Jimmy Carter and we had a Bicentennial. But important stories of the day told us about the nasty deeds of the Trilateral Commission, Henry Kissinger, the oil companies, etc... So much for that age of disco innocence.

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Contents this page were published in the January/February, 1998 edition of the Washington Free Press.
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