The Senate voted to raise fuel efficiency for the first time since 1989. The powerful auto lobby wasn't able to put a stop to this legislation despite their strong opposition. I think this is another example of mainstream America starting to pay more attention to environmental issues. That's the wider point of this cartoon. It's becoming harder and harder for politicians, especially from the right to ignore environmental issues.

Where I grew up, a small logging town in rural Oregon,"environmentalist" was a swear word. Mills were shutting down, people losing their jobs and families were forced to move in order to save the spotted owl. I had a paper route when I was in my early teens and when I was collecting fees for the month much of the money was stamped "timber dollars at work". It was very much a live and let live kind of place.

Call it a product of my youth, but I still cringe any time someone suggests that I am an environmentalist. At my core is a leave me alone attitude. Just outside that core is a side of don't mess with me. But now that I live in Seattle, so close to so many other people it's easier to see how our individual actions effect everyone. I need to be careful now or I'll be sick. I can't help but think that if I'm softening to the issues facing our environment, there must be a lot hold outs feeling the same way.

Eric Devericks/The Seattle Times