It's been done. A free market environmental management system with pilot programs and an implementing strategy has been designed, condensed, and is ready for presentation to the public. I put the book in Simon's hands early last November. He's too busy to read it don't you know. I met him at the convention and demonstrated a half dozen sound-bites. I'm now working on one page summaries. All they have to do is get their heads out of their defensive posture and ask. I'll help them out for nothing more than expenses.
If you aren't a grant-hustling Ph.D., or don't have a sack full of cash, they don't listen. It's damned frustrating.
Most people don't think the conservatives have a interest in this, much less a response. Before I began reading your posts on this forum, I didn't think there was such a thing as a conservative environmentalist. I've learned a lot from you. I think others can too. It's time to market YOU. Have you considered forming a nonprofit consortium with your colleagues? A conservative counter to the Sierra Club? What I'm thinking of is a vehicle to advance these issues: newspaper columns, internet news columns, even TV time. When do we hear the conservative counter to this issue when the liberals go on the talk shows and news magazines? Never as far as I'm concerned. Is there someone who is highly visible to call on for this? None that I've seen. There's a void here.
Funny you should bring up grantwriting. I'm starting to learn that in order to pay for graduate school. The most important thing I've learned so far is the necessity of a good project. If a good project and plan is in place, the actual writing of the grant is a piece of cake. That last part is only 10 to 15% of the project. You've already got that. All you need is a good PR person. I'm serious!
As for Simon, if he is listening to Bush/Parsky/Rove then he is making a pact with the devil. They were so successful in the CA primary, weren't they? They have no idea what Californians need or want. As far as I'm concerned they should have minimal input in this campaign. However, none of us have any control over that. Simon is probably being told not to focus too much on the environment because it's not an issue. Politicians have become notorious for sticking their fingers to the wind to see what the issues are. When all Californians realize that this IS an important issue for ALL of us, then the politicians will respond. Then they'll go looking for the experts. That's when they will come to someone like YOU.
Just my unsolicited two cents worth:)