America s unwillingness to take the lead on environmental issues may some day be regarded as one of the country s most profound political failures. One hopes that it changes course soon, before we all are forced to wear swimsuits to work.

But those compromises are like statistics or skimpy swimsuits what they show is less important than what they hide. Two fundamental considerations come to mind, and their ramifications in up for grab countries in Latin America, such as El Salvador, are particularly significant.