Contemporary Western Rural USA Economic Composition: Potential Implications for Environmental Policy and research

摘要

The rural West of the United States is consid- ered strongly antienvironment. The traditional economic reli- ance of the area on natural resources has long explained this antienvironemtn stance. The region consistently elects federal officials who as a group consistently vote against environmental bills and seek to undo existing federal envi- ronmental regulation. These politicians defend their antienvi- ronment actions based on their perception of the economic composition and interests o the region.