Making an ocean out of a mud puddle: Spare me the rhetoric and use a little common sense instead

For several years now it's become apparent that because of a couple of Supreme Court rulings -- you may remember Rapanos? -- the EPA has been extremely limited in how it can go about doing its job of protecting our nation's waters. And our watersheds have suffered for it.

This week, Rep. Jim Oberstar (D) introduced the "America's Commitment to Clean Water Act," the aim of which is to clarify certain terminology in the Clean Water Act so as to restore its original intent, which has been so unfortunately distorted over the past decade.

The bill is actually pretty concise and clear, for a bill. And yet, somehow, a reporter for Fox News has managed to twist around its language to suit his own purposes, casting the legislation as being Draconian and warning us, the ignorant populace, that if passed it will "bring every lake, pond, creek or mud hole under the EPA's control."

Huh?

Really, Mr. Brian Wilson? Really? Did you even read the bill? Of course you did. And you also know that most people won't. So you'll do them a favor and spare them the tedious task of actually investigating the legislation and just give them the opinion you want them to have. You'll paint a picture of "Big Government" stomping on their freedoms and incite them -- or scare them -- into swallowing your bitter dose of propaganda.

This is exactly the kind of divisive, inflammatory, self-serving rhetoric that has become an infectious epidemic in this country in recent times. Spare me. Spare all of us.

But, I refuse to be guilty of the same injustice of which I'm accusing Mr. Wilson, so please judge for yourself. Read the bill. And make your own judgement -- don't let Mr. Wilson of Fox News make it for you.

Read the America's Commitment to Clean Water Act >
Read Mr. Wilson's article >