Many insiders have learned that the easiest path in dealing with the major reason for failure — agriculture — is to throw more money at voluntary programs that have not worked and disregard regulatory actions. Policymakers, conservation leaders and some scientists have learned that job security, advancement and monetary rewards come from promoting a firehose of dollars to put out the ecological fire, thus avoiding conflict. Too many supposed leaders have become environmental mercenaries who desire to avoid any blowback in pushing for regulatory changes that impede the financial prospects of themselves or their organizations. You will repeatedly hear these environmental mercenaries touting the great successes of the Bay Program.

Opinion by GERALD WINEGRAD

Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement. As a Maryland state senator at the time, I witnessed this event along with 700 other hopeful activists. Our optimism for a clean bay is being crushed as the harsh reality sinks in: The Environmental Protection Agency is badly failing in its duty to enforce the Clean Water Act and to prod bay states to meet mandatory pollution reductions to restore the Chesapeake. This is despite the states being given 15 years to comply.