Jeff Jacoby

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law by then-president Richard Nixon in 1973 in an effort to save species in danger of extinction. In the following viewpoint, Jeff Jacoby argues that the ESA may have saved a few species, but overall it has led to the destruction of many more. Jacoby maintains that the ESA imposes high economic costs on private property owners by restricting activities like logging and farming if endangered species are found on their land. To counter such costs and restrictions, Jacoby reports that many landowners often kill the animals or destroy their habitat before the government finds them. Jacoby is a syndicated conservative columnist.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Jacoby, what are the real reasons twenty- nine species may be taken off the endangered...