Barack Obama’s so-called “science czar” proposed a reduction of the United States economy and general “de-development” of the country in order to reduce environmental impact. The proposition came back in the 1970s, but there’s no indication that he’s changed that position.

“A massive campaign must be launched to restore a high-quality environment in North America and to de-develop the United States,” Holdren wrote in a 1973 book he co-authored with Paul R. Ehrlch and Anne H. Ehrlich. “De-development means bringing our economic system (especially patterns of consumption) into line with the realities of ecology and the global resource situation.”In the vision expressed by Holdren and his co-authors, the Ehrlichs, the need for “de-development” of the United States demanded a redistribtuion of wealth.

“The need for de-development presents our economists with a major challenge,” they wrote. “They must design a stable, low-consumption economy in which there is a much more equitable distribution of wealth than in the present one. Redistribution of wealth both within and among nations is absolutely essential, if a decent life is to be provided to every human being.”

So not only did he think (and possibly still thinks) it’s a good idea, but he was a big enough proponent of the proposal to write a book about it with two other supporters.

So our science czar has proposed tearing down the nation’s economic power, forcing Americans to consume less, and redistributing our wealth amongst other nations. All in the name of the environment. And yet most of the media has refused to cover this story, while the administration conveniently leaves this fact out of the press release. Craptastic.

Via Ace.