President Obama:
But what we can't do - what I won't do - is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades. I reject the idea that we need to ask people to choose between their jobs and their safety. I reject the argument that says for the economy to grow, we have to roll back protections that ban hidden fees by credit card companies, or rules that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury, or laws that prevent the health insurance industry from shortchanging patients.
We shouldn't be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards.
There is a clear message here, a headline if you will: Trading jobs for environmental degradation is unacceptable.
Yes, we shouldn't wipe out basic protections of our water supply.
We shouldn't wipe out basic protections of our climate. It's clear that keeping that carbon in the ground protects us.
Hm. Drinking water and the ability to live above water. Both seem pretty important to me. Sounds like another call from Barack Obama to hold Barack Obama's feet to the fire.
ACTION: Be sure to include Obama's recent words against trading jobs for environmental degradation in LTEs, letters to Congress, letters to Obama. Include Obama's words when spreading awareness of this issue.
Clearly one part of him already knows to do the right thing, now let's make him do it.