Back in 1900, Chicago's civic leaders realized that dumping sewage and garbage and other miscellaneous crud into Lake Michigan wasn't such a good idea.
Too bad Mitch Daniels hasn't figured that out yet.
The Sanitary District of Chicago performed what was then considered an engineering miracle by reversing the flow of the Chicago River to route pollution away from Lake Michigan.
Here we are, more than a century later, and a company that was smart enough to make a profit of $6.087 billion in the second quarter of this year still can't figure out how to stop messing around with Mother Nature.
BP, as we all know by now, got approval to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more silt into the lake. Daniels can't understand what all the fuss is about, which is what you'd expect from a guy who lives in Indianapolis and probably drinks bottled water, anyway.
Daniels justified his administration's decision by playing the old economic development card, as if it trumped everything else. In another time, it probably would have.
But we are awakening, slowly but surely, to the realization that there is only so much abuse our planet can take.
BP's argument is that the increased levels of junk being poured into the lake will remain below federal limits. That's like saying your credit's in the toilet, but you haven't filed for bankruptcy yet.
When word of BP's plan first came out, part of the rationale was that it would create 80 jobs. As everyone from Mayor Richard Daley to the Illinois congressional delegation started turning up the heat, Daniels reacted by upping the ante.
"We've got thousands of jobs that would be at risk if (the project) doesn't go forward," he said Wednesday.
Well, whether it's fourscore or four thousand, what good is it going to be if the people who hold those jobs find their health at risk because of this short-sighted move?
Someone needs to explain to BP that corporate greed and arrogance aren't in fashion anymore.
If we can change the course of the Chicago River, we should be able to do the same with Mitch Daniels' short-sighted policies.
Even if it takes more than a hundred years to get the job done.
The opinions are those of the columnist. He can be reached at mclark@nwitimes.com.
