The New Colonialism. Our Forest Legacy. The Flathead Beacon. The Plum Creek matter is a growing issue. Here is another article.
George Wuerthner recommended a link to this article.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project and the creator of The Wildlife News.
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You’re starting to catch on Ralph, what Senator Max Baucus, DEMOCRAT from Montana is all about!
Roy,
You’ve come to this forum with some assumptions. I never said I was an enthusiast for Senator Baucus.
“Colonialism – outside interests running Montana for their benefit, which often is not Montana’s benefit. ”
Does the author really believe that TNC & TPL are colonialists doing this for their own benefit? I have confidence in these two organizations to act responsibly with lots of local input.
The perfect is frequently the enemy of the good. What alternative does the author have for the 300,000 acres?
And ROY, you seem to bless this transaction in another thread, when you said you agreed Melanie Parker’s article in the Missoulian (essentially lauding the deal).
Scott,
I said I like that 320,000 acres in Montana have been conserved for future timber production, hunting, and hiking. I also said that I have issues with how it was funded in the farm bill.
Now, let’s talk about the ethanol subsidies that Barrack Obama, DEMOCRAT from Illinios has landed for his state……..
Roy,
Forgive me if I am dense, but why is it bad that Baucus included a funding mechanism to acquire the Plum Creek lands?
I agree that the Farm Bill and Ag. policy generally are a mess (and a mass of subsidies).
Ralph Maughan got it so right in another thread. The quality of a new president is manifest in his (or her) political appointees….especially with public lands management.
It’s funny that Skinner suggests that the land should have been purchased by the state and transferred to the State Land Board or the State Forest. Has he visited any of these lands lately? They are managed worse than most of the federal land, which is saying something.
Skinner always suggests that states seem to have the best resources to manage these lands. I don’t know what planet he’s on but it isn’t the scorching Earth!!
and yeah he’s funny….