WHAT YOU GET IS WHAT YOU DEMAND

In my attempt to understand environmental problems in West Dallas/Grand Prairie created by the military, I've gone off track a time or two. I've had theories or followed leads that came to a dead end, and forced me to learn new info. I've had to carefully view situations the way they are, not the way I think they are or want them to be. In the end, truth and understanding are to be sought-not hidden. Truth is always a good thing.

Today was an on-track day! I formulated an important, summative question and put it to an expert whom I respect:

WHY DOES THE MILITARY CLEAN UP* SOME BASES AND NOT OTHERS?
Is there some key or criteria I can apply?
Do some bases have a future use for the military while others can be spared and abandoned? Does location make the big difference? This is what my expert said: We don't know why the military gives the excuses it gives. (money maybe?) But we do know this: Texas's regulations are weak. THE KEY TO GETTING THE MILITARY TO CLEAN UP IS CITIZEN PRESSURE.
*clean up to a residential standard

So, everywhere you see the military remediating...citizens have demanded it. Think Camp LeJeune, NC. Think east and west coast bases where environmentalism is much stronger than in Texas and the press gives broad coverage of citizen efforts.
Wouldn't it be nice if our tv news stations gave air time and research effort to producing stories that would aid awareness or inspire activism? But even if that happened, we citizens would still need to do our civic duty - attend some meetings, demand and choose representatives, show up to vote, etc. We get the government we earn.
If you care about the Mountain Creek/Grand Prairie area, make this your theme: CITIZEN PRESSURE! That is...organized citizens pressing elected officials to demand clean up from the Navy with Texas's Environmental Commission and citizen oversight, as the law requires.

Are you the person who will organize citizens? You might be a student or church group member and/or resident of a Mt Creek neighborhood. If you know people who live in this area, you could be a vital agent for change. No one could argue against your case for clean up and demonstrate anything but blatant self interest.