Isn't the serious discussion you want already happening? It's called politics, where values, trade offs, and the cut and thrust of debate on these matters occurs. Seems odd to state otherwise, or that people are not serious enough about this stuff. Often peoples lives and livelihoods are shaped by where these bottom lines land. I suspect this reflects a different value set to your own. That ROI you so easily dismiss may be the difference for some people between putting food on the table or going without, between a rural community that is thriving, and one that is dying. Of course we should strive to improve water quality, to innovative, to "love our place", but it's maybe not helpful to set up the debate in black and white terms.
Isn't the serious discussion you want already happening? It's called politics, where values, trade offs, and the cut and thrust of debate on these matters occurs. Seems odd to state otherwise, or that people are not serious enough about this stuff. Often peoples lives and livelihoods are shaped by where these bottom lines land. I suspect this reflects a different value set to your own. That ROI you so easily dismiss may be the difference for some people between putting food on the table or going without, between a rural community that is thriving, and one that is dying. Of course we should strive to improve water quality, to innovative, to "love our place", but it's maybe not helpful to set up the debate in black and white terms.