Mining is safer, cleaner, and more ethical in America. So why do environmentalists stand in the way?

Bob Greene : The Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC ) has $463 million in assets.

Greene: It claims it uses law "to confront the climate crisis" Greene: When investors try to dig up minerals in America , NRDC objects and uses political connections to stop them.

America now ranks second to last in the time it takes to develop a new mine— roughly 29 years .