Can mankind make a better world? John Shanahan October 8, 2017
The native plants around Metro Denver, before the arrival of people from Europe and Asia, consisted of short grass prairie with less than 15 inches (38 cm) of rain per year. Everyone landing at Denver International Airport from the east sees what that native state was like: treeless, schrubless, nearly featureless short grass flat ground, except near a few year round or part time streams. For sure there were animals and some flowering plants. With the arrival of people from Europe and Asia came permanent settlement and civilization, a system of law, democratic government, economic development, urban planning. At first it was the Wild West, plunder, and every man for himself. Fairly quickly it became what it is today, with sound management for the essentials of life (water, transportation, utilities) and opportunities for education and economic advancement. My wife and I went for a short bike ride along the High Line Canal which brings water from the mountains. See how nature has changed from the simple short 1