Love crabs? Don't eat them

That is an irrational fear. Most Marylanders realize by now that the bay has been abused and exploited. We know that without more aggressive measures, we might have to say farewell to the life aquatic; the Chesapeake will lose not only its commercial fishery but also its stature as the pride of our region.

So politicians shouldn't be shy about taking drastic action to stem pollution, particularly from farms. They shouldn't be afraid to save crabs with a moratorium. And they shouldn't chant the "growth is good" mantra just because that's what they've always done. (They might even want to question whether Maryland can - or should - take in the thousands of new residents anticipated from the supposedly beneficial military base realignment plan.)

It's all OK because we're headed toward a future where environmentalism is not a cause one signs up for but part of a new kind of holistic citizenship that considers the consequences of almost every private and public action - from the kinds of light bulbs we use to the kinds of leaders we elect.

Call it the green movement, if you need the shorthand; it's an aesthetic that drives past self-interest toward the greater good. It is related to the movement that swept Barack Obama to victory, and its emergence has been accelerated by economic conditions and how we see the future. Our economic recovery will be tied to the greening of technology, industry, the work force and our style of life. I hope green citizenship will become the dominant cultural and political force over the next decade - for our sake, for our kids' sake, for the sake of the blue crab.

Dan Rodricks' columns appear Sundays and Tuesdays. He is host of the midday talk show on WYPR-FM.