Rash Judgment

Stanley, Idaho

 

I'm taking a zero tolerance position to folks who speak ill of the Constitutional promise given to created states after the original thirteen colonies.  Mr. Pete Zimowsky, Outdoor Editor for the Idaho Statesman gets my first response to his attack of our legislator's for even considering the idea of state ownership of federal lands within Idaho.  Read for yourself his comment in this weekend Statesman.

 

Leave federal public land alone:  Idaho legislators need to go out,  enjoy the outdoors on public lands, and smell the wild roses.  State lawmakers are looking at passing legislation to transfer control of federal public land in Idaho to the state.  The state can't even take care of its state parks.  The governor and the legislature severely cut funding to state parks several years ago.  What's the motive behind the takeover?  It's anyone's  guess.  Sell off public lands to the highest bidder?  Clear-cut forests,  strip-mine mountains and overgraze grasslands for one-time profit that leaves public lands in shambles? Idaho has 33 million acres of federally managed lands,  and as a hunter,  angler and camper,  I don't want the beauty,  recreational value and environmental quality of these lands compromised.  Hunters,  anglers an other recreationists need to speak up and tell Idaho legislators to leave federal public lands alone!

PETE ZIMOWSKY
My response;

 

Mr. Zimowsky,

I’m surprised that a self proclaimed outdoorsman would make such rash judgment about Idaho’s legislators need to smell Idaho’s wild roses.  There will be no wild roses, scenic forests or clean rivers and streams unless Idaho takes charge of her natural responsibility and cares for her forests and range lands.  The federal government’s preservation policies for territories within Idaho are killing our once majestic environment.  Wild and forest fires consumed about 1.5 million acres in Idaho last summer destroying forests, habitats and millions of game and non-game animals.  The fires were consequence of years of failed federal land management policies that are further crippling Idaho’s ability to care for our children’s educational needs and leaving them a future where fishing, hunting and recreation opportunities are shrinking.  Idaho’s 1.5 million acre forest (as much acreage burnt in Idaho's federal land last summer) provided $31 million dollars to our schools last year while the federal forests within Idaho of 17.3 million acres provided only charcoal.  Maybe you Pete should get out in the forest more and see for yourself the beetle kill (next year’s fire fodder), the habitat destruction and this springs runoff sure to take Idaho’s soil down the river of no return.

Darr Moon 

Stanley, Idaho