It would be surprising if such widespread changes in public policy did not generate opposition. And so they did – opposition that was continuous, increasingly vocal and determined, accelerating through the 1970s, and rising to a peak in the early 1980s. A coherent antienvironmental movement emerged with an overriding goal of restraining environmental political influence.

In its simplest form this was a reaction by long-established commodity producers to a new consumer politics. Economic politics in America had long been dominated by controversies among organized producer groups in agriculture, labor, and business. Such struggles took place with little significant influence from the public in its role as buyers in the market. At times measures on behalf of consumers were taken, but in the face of opposition from producers these were short-lived.

Environmental affairs reflected a new phase of consumer politics, one more extensive and successful than in previous years. It was part of the more general consumer activism that developed in the 1960s and 1970s. Environmentalists presented a serious challenge to agriculture, labor, and business, which turned on them with alarm. Although these groups made opportunistic adjustments to environmental objectives, their overall political strategy was one of maximum feasible resistance and minimum feasible retreat.

Farmers and Environmental Issues

The farm response to urban recreationists. The search by urban people for outdoor recreation brought them into direct conflict with rural communities. The automobile enabled them to reach the countryside, to explore and enjoy its relatively natural environment.