Will Rogers has a hopeful editorial in the NYT today, pointing out that despite the relative silence of the mainstream media on the story, environmental initiatives won broad support on Nov. 2.

Across the country, in red states and blue states, Americans voted decisively to spend more money for natural areas, neighborhood parks and conservation in their communities. Of 161 conservation ballot measures, 120 — or 75 percent — were approved by voters. Three-and-a-quarter billion dollars were dedicated to land conservation.

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Such measures won support in areas where Kerry won and areas where Bush won. Seems to show that there’s a broad consensus about conservationist issues generally, a consensus that overlaps but is not tied to support for the Democratic party.

More on this subject soon.