Nearly 230 years ago, at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our forefathers collectively knew they were about to commit treason. Some were quite justifiably worried about the consequences. That nerve-rattling occasion prompted Benjamin Franklin to utter one of his most famous statements: “We must all hang together or assuredly we will all hang separately.”
That’s a pretty highfalutin way of suggesting that, at a time when the entire green industry is beginning to face mounting attacks on issues ranging from water rationing to the cosmetic use of pesticides, there is no better moment for all of us to hang together.
Most of the recent attacks are community-based activist attempts to ban or restrict phosphorous in fertilizers or various kinds of pesticides used on lawns. For the most part, the professional lawn care industry and the do-it-yourself companies are bearing the brunt of the problems. But, thanks to years of good public outreach and, often, some heavy local political connections, golf courses are usually able to quickly gain exemption from these misguided regulations. That’s good … but it’s also bad in the long run.
Imagine for a moment that the situation was reversed and golf was the primary target of unscientific and calculated political attacks. (This shouldn’t be too hard to imagine for those of us who were active in golf industry lobbying in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.) Wouldn’t you expect or at least hope your comrades in the local green industry to come to your defense? After all, if they can do it to you, wouldn’t you expect the activists to target them next?
That’s exactly what I think you’ll see in some, if not all, of these local restriction efforts. Sure, they might agree to let golf courses slide out of the regulations in the first round since lawn care seems to be a more politically desirable target at the moment. But, do you seriously believe that they’ll just stop once they get a taste for imposing their eco-beliefs on others? Do you honestly think that golf won’t eventually come back into their crosshairs?
I’m not suggesting the GCSAA and the local GCSAs should just ignore opportunities to protect the interests of their members by gaining exemption from these wacky new laws. But, I do assert the bill will eventually come due. Golf groups at every level need to recognize their common interests with their brethren in lawn care and even the humble homeowner and consider whether they should stand and fight, or at least lend resources, when those interests are at stake. In short, there are definitely times we must hang together. If not … well, you know the rest of the quote.
Final word: Remember another great Franklinism: "They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
