Three Cheers for the Snail Darter

Few laws in recent years have caused such apoplexy among so-called practical men of affairs as the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It first burst upon the public consciousness two years ago, when it was invoked twice to scuttle projected dams in Tennessee and Maine; the first time, to save a nondescript little fish called the snail darter, and the other, an inconspicuous flower called the furbish lousewort.

It is idiotic, cry the practical men of affairs, to allow sentimentality over a few hundred weeds or minnows to stand in the way of progress. It is irresponsible, reply the conservationists, to destroy forever a unique pool of genetic material; and the conservationists can marshal a host of nonsenti-mental arguments in support of what many consider to be the most important environmental legislation of this decade.

JL

About the Author

James L. Buckley

James L. Buckley represented New York in the U.S. Senate from 1971 to 1977 and served as a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1985 to 2000.

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James L. Buckley

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Few laws in recent years have caused such apoplexy among so-called practical men of affairs as the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It first burst upon the public consciousness two years ago, when it was invoked twice to scuttle projected dams in Tennessee and Maine; the first time, to save a nondescript little fish called the snail darter, and the other, an inconspicuous flower called the furbish lousewort.

It is idiotic, cry the practical men of affairs, to allow sentimentality over a few hundred weeds or minnows to stand in the way of progress. It is irresponsible, reply the conservationists, to destroy forever a unique pool of genetic material; and the conservationists can marshal a host of nonsenti-mental arguments in support of what many consider to be the most important environmental legislation of this decade.

JL

About the Author

James L. Buckley

James L. Buckley represented New York in the U.S. Senate from 1971 to 1977 and served as a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1985 to 2000.