White House science czar John Holdren says he would use "free market" to "de-develop the United States." He goes on to defend author Paul Ehrlich's silly claims about consumption and how we can all get back to basics.

Ehrlich's book, "Population Bomb" proposes "razing cities to the ground, blowing up dams and switching off the greenhouse gas emissions machine."

Holdren and co-authors Paul and Anne H. Ehrlich wrote "Human Ecology: Problems and Solutions" in 1973.

Holdren proposed giving "natural objects" — like trees — standing to sue in a court of law. He thought this would have a "most salubrious" effect on the environment.