Even though the commission had met numerous times to discuss this issue, Sam remained undecided about how he would vote on the ban of pesticides. His colleagues, however, seemed to be more certain of their own positions in the matter. Commissioner Harris had repeatedly stated her concerns about the fate of the county-owned golf course. According to Harris, the maintenance and care of the facilities would be unmanageable without the assistance of pesticides. This enterprise would certainly become a financial drain for the county. Commissioner Smith, on the other hand, was firm on his position to ban pesticide use in the county. Smith was still mourning the loss of his beloved wife, Margaret, who had recently died of cancer.
With the other two commissioners firmly split on the issue, Sam realized that he held the deciding vote. He felt the weight of his responsibility and hoped that today’s testimony would give him the confidence to make the right decision. Commissioner Grant continued, “Before we make our final ruling, we have several stakeholders who would like to speak….”
… As the meeting approached the two-hour mark, Sam was furiously trying to process the information that had been presented. Ag Commissioner Shakely clearly indicated that agricultural producers in the county would definitely be affected, but that argument was countered by Josh Martin’s NRCS report of pesticide persistence and movement in the environment based on studies conducted by his colleagues in the agency. Susan Fletcher argued passionately that homeowners had the right to protect and preserve their property from pests. Mr. Baldwin followed Susan with data about how employment would be affected by the ban. Dr. Sherman Wiles spoke knowledgeably about the harmful levels of pesticides found in people. Dr. Kris Joudeki, a well-known ornithologist, revisited the warning sounded by Rachel Carson in her book Silent Spring.
As the last two speakers prepared their comments, Sam was no closer to a decision than he was at the beginning of the day. Dr. Mickey Delaney took the floor and said, “The county health department is concerned that a ban on pesticides could create a health care crisis that we are not prepared to handle.” Finally, Terry Halleran made his way to the microphone. “Folks, we are caught in a vicious cycle. What works on pests yesterday, doesn’t work today. What works today, won’t work tomorrow. We must break this cycle!”
Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/pesticides/pesticides2.asp
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