I’ve been unjust to Rod, and written far more snarkily and harshly than our disagreements, which I consider minor, justify. I failed to express any sympathy for his family’s situation (although I certainly feel it). When he brought it up, I treated it as an attempt by him to shut down the debate. That was uncharitable: Knowing Rod, I should have realized that he was merely explaining why he cared so deeply about the issue. Nobody can say that Rod is guileful or merely point-scoring in his writing, and I shouldn’t have leapt to that conclusion.

Moreover, I agree with Rod that conservatives and Republicans often underestimate both the importance of environmental protection and the political damage done by the perception that they underestimate it. I should have acknowledged the value of what he wrote. I apologize for all of the above. That said, I still think, first, that Rod is to some extent reacting to a caricature of conservatives; second, that he does not really engage existing conservative thought on the environment; and third, that one can disagree with him about the connection between asthma and pollution without opposing environmental protection.