THE
IDEALISTS
smog and soot” and “listen to his
scientific advisors on air quality
standard.” Combine that with other
failures to protect the public and
the environment, and Steinzor’s
prognosis was very bleak.
She predicts “tremendous
harm” ahead. “There will be code
red days — many, many of them —
in the inner cities. Explosions in
the Gulf. Collapsing mines. Fatal
catastrophes at chemical plants
and refineries. Young teenagers
succumbing to heat stroke and
worse in the fields. Poisoned food
from China.”
Now she looks back at her
hopes on election day and feels
naïve. “It’s embarrassing to me,”
she said. “What did he really say
or do that gave us a reason to be
so optimistic?”
SONIA RECCHIA