Administration Quote by Paul R. Ehrlich
“Historically, things were moving in a pretty good direction until the Reagan presidency. And then it all got reversed. The Mexico City policy was instituted - the idea of wrecking the environment for this generation's profit and forgetting about our gets got firmly embedded. I'm sad to say the Clinton administration didn't turn it around and the Bush administration, well, I think they're the worst administration we've ever had, and I used to be a Republican.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on environmental policy, 1990s
The quote argues that US environmental policy deteriorated after Reagan, with subsequent administrations failing to reverse damage, reflecting pessimism about political leadership.
In simple terms: US environmental policy worsened after Reagan and stayed poor.
Key Takeaway
Recognize policy trends and demand accountability.
Themes
environment
politics
policy
history
optimism
Mood
cynical
concerned
determined
Type
political
environmental
critical
When to use this quote
- advocacy
- voting
- community organizing
- education
- research
Key Concepts
environmental degradation
political cycles
policy inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens influence environmental policy despite leadership failures?
- What evidence contradicts the claim of continual decline?
A Different Perspective
The assessment may overlook positive reforms and regional successes.
![“In ten years [i.e., 1980] all important animal life in the sea will be extinct. Large areas of coastline will have to be evacuated because of the stench of dead fish.” quote by Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/552/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_animal_in-ten-years-i-e-1980-all-important-anim_180543.jpg)
