OUR VALUABLE PUBLIC FORESTED LANDS!
PUBLIC LANDS, MANAGED BY AGENCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BELONG TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THESE AGENCIES MANAGE OVER 600 MILLION ACRES, ALMOST 25 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL U.S. LAND BASE. POLITICIANS FREQUENTLY SEE THESE VALUABLE LANDS AS ASSETS THAT HAVE MONETARY VALUE IF SOLD. THESE LANDS MAKE UP A LARGE PART OF THE REMAINING NATURAL WORLD ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT. CURRENT FEDERAL LAWS PROVIDE REASONABLE PROTECTION FOR THE SALE OF THESE LANDS.
THE LAST REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION, HAD A PROPOSAL WITHIN THEIR PLATFORM, TO SELL THESE LANDS TO THE STATES. UNDER STATE OWNERSHIP, ALL LEGAL PROTECTION DISAPPEARS, AND THE STATES CAN SELL TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR DISASTER FOR THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. OUR HISTORY IS FULL OF NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF OVER-HARVESTING, MINING, OVER GRAZING AND LAND CLEARING, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON NATURE. REMEMBER, ONLY 26% OF THE ORIGINAL FORESTED ACREAGE REMAINS ON OUR PLANET!
WHY IS GIVING THESE PUBLIC FOREST LANDS TO THE STATES SUCH A PROBLEM? EARLY IN OUR HISTORY, WHEN THE LAND SURVEYORS WERE SUB-DIVIDING THE LAND INTO TOWNSHIPS AND SECTIONS, TWO SECTIONS IN EACH TOWNSHIP WERE GIVEN TO THE STATES TO HELP FINANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION. MANY OF THESE TRACTS HAVE SINCE BEEN SOLD TO HELP COVER THE COST OF STATE GOVERNMENT. IN FACT, DURING THE PAST 20 YEARS, STATES HAVE EXPERIENCED MAJOR PROBLEMS STAYING WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS, AND HAVE SOLD INFRASTRUCTURE TO OFF SET REVENUE SHORTFALLS. LAND AND TOLL ROAD SYSTEMS ARE EXAMPLES OF INFRASTRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD, SOME TIMES TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES. IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THE FORMER GOVERNOR GOT A LAW ENACTED WHICH GAVE HIM THE AUTHORITY TO REPLACE THE EXISTING LEADERSHIP OF SELECTED COMMUNITIES WITH A MANAGER OF HIS CHOICE. IN FLINT, MICHIGAN HE CHOSE TO REPLACE THE MAYOR AND THEN SELL THE PIPELINE THAT SUPPLIED THE CITY WATER, FORCING THE CITY TO TAKE WATER FROM THE RIVER WHICH RESULTED IN LEAD CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER. SAVING OUR PUBLIC FOREST COVERED LANDS IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR FUTURE!
POLITICIANS LIKE TO USE TAX CUTS AS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE VOTERS TO ELECT THEM. THESE CUTS PRODUCE MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN REVENUES REQUIRING REDUCTION IN SERVICES. THE POLITICIANS THEN MUST CUT SPENDING WHERE IT IS THE LEAST VISIBLE TO THE VOTERS. OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO CUT OR ELIMINATE GRANT MONEYS TO THE STATES. THIS HAS CREATED MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR STATES BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND NEW CONSTRUCTION ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. TAX REDUCTIONS ARE ALSO THE MAIN CAUSE OF SERIOUS INCREASES IN OUR NATIONAL DEPT.
EXPERIENCE DEFINITELY DEMONSTRATES THE PROBLEM OF TRANSFERRING FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS TO THE STATES. INSTEAD OF TAKING ON INCREASED COST OF MANAGING THESE LANDS, STATES WOULD FIND IT ADVANTAGEOUS TO SELL TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES, THUS LOOSING MUCH OF THE VITAL NATURAL WORLD THAT SUSTAINS LIFE ON EARTH. THE THOUGHT OF ALLOWING THESE LANDS TO BE LOST IS SCARY, AND WILL ACCELERATE THE DEMISE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. WHAT STANDS OUT, AGAIN, IS HOW GREED AND INDIVIDUALISM HAS OVER-TAKEN OUR SOCIAL VALUES.
I JUST READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2023, WHERE THE MENOMINEE TRIBAL ENTERPRISES DISCUSS HOW THEY HAVE MANAGED THEIR FORESTED LANDS FOR CENTURIES. THEY CLEARLY DEFINE THEIR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF THE FOREST COMMUNITIES AND THE BENEFIT IS THE FINANCIAL STABILITY IT HAS PROVIDED THEIR PEOPLE. DOCTOR MICHAEL DOCKRY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT TH UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S FOREST RESOURCES DEPARTMENT STATES, “IN MANY WAYS THEY ARE LEADING THE FEDS IN HOW TO MANAGE FORESTS”.
SAVING OUR PUBLIC LANDS IS ESSENTIAL! CHANGING OUR MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR THOSE PUBLIC FORESTED LANDS IS VITAL!
PUBLIC LANDS, MANAGED BY AGENCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BELONG TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THESE AGENCIES MANAGE OVER 600 MILLION ACRES, ALMOST 25 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL U.S. LAND BASE. POLITICIANS FREQUENTLY SEE THESE VALUABLE LANDS AS ASSETS THAT HAVE MONETARY VALUE IF SOLD. THESE LANDS MAKE UP A LARGE PART OF THE REMAINING NATURAL WORLD ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT. CURRENT FEDERAL LAWS PROVIDE REASONABLE PROTECTION FOR THE SALE OF THESE LANDS.
THE LAST REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION, HAD A PROPOSAL WITHIN THEIR PLATFORM, TO SELL THESE LANDS TO THE STATES. UNDER STATE OWNERSHIP, ALL LEGAL PROTECTION DISAPPEARS, AND THE STATES CAN SELL TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR DISASTER FOR THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. OUR HISTORY IS FULL OF NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF OVER-HARVESTING, MINING, OVER GRAZING AND LAND CLEARING, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON NATURE. REMEMBER, ONLY 26% OF THE ORIGINAL FORESTED ACREAGE REMAINS ON OUR PLANET!
WHY IS GIVING THESE PUBLIC FOREST LANDS TO THE STATES SUCH A PROBLEM? EARLY IN OUR HISTORY, WHEN THE LAND SURVEYORS WERE SUB-DIVIDING THE LAND INTO TOWNSHIPS AND SECTIONS, TWO SECTIONS IN EACH TOWNSHIP WERE GIVEN TO THE STATES TO HELP FINANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION. MANY OF THESE TRACTS HAVE SINCE BEEN SOLD TO HELP COVER THE COST OF STATE GOVERNMENT. IN FACT, DURING THE PAST 20 YEARS, STATES HAVE EXPERIENCED MAJOR PROBLEMS STAYING WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS, AND HAVE SOLD INFRASTRUCTURE TO OFF SET REVENUE SHORTFALLS. LAND AND TOLL ROAD SYSTEMS ARE EXAMPLES OF INFRASTRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD, SOME TIMES TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES. IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THE FORMER GOVERNOR GOT A LAW ENACTED WHICH GAVE HIM THE AUTHORITY TO REPLACE THE EXISTING LEADERSHIP OF SELECTED COMMUNITIES WITH A MANAGER OF HIS CHOICE. IN FLINT, MICHIGAN HE CHOSE TO REPLACE THE MAYOR AND THEN SELL THE PIPELINE THAT SUPPLIED THE CITY WATER, FORCING THE CITY TO TAKE WATER FROM THE RIVER WHICH RESULTED IN LEAD CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER. SAVING OUR PUBLIC FOREST COVERED LANDS IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR FUTURE!
POLITICIANS LIKE TO USE TAX CUTS AS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE VOTERS TO ELECT THEM. THESE CUTS PRODUCE MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN REVENUES REQUIRING REDUCTION IN SERVICES. THE POLITICIANS THEN MUST CUT SPENDING WHERE IT IS THE LEAST VISIBLE TO THE VOTERS. OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO CUT OR ELIMINATE GRANT MONEYS TO THE STATES. THIS HAS CREATED MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR STATES BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND NEW CONSTRUCTION ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. TAX REDUCTIONS ARE ALSO THE MAIN CAUSE OF SERIOUS INCREASES IN OUR NATIONAL DEPT.
EXPERIENCE DEFINITELY DEMONSTRATES THE PROBLEM OF TRANSFERRING FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS TO THE STATES. INSTEAD OF TAKING ON INCREASED COST OF MANAGING THESE LANDS, STATES WOULD FIND IT ADVANTAGEOUS TO SELL TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES, THUS LOOSING MUCH OF THE VITAL NATURAL WORLD THAT SUSTAINS LIFE ON EARTH. THE THOUGHT OF ALLOWING THESE LANDS TO BE LOST IS SCARY, AND WILL ACCELERATE THE DEMISE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. WHAT STANDS OUT, AGAIN, IS HOW GREED AND INDIVIDUALISM HAS OVER-TAKEN OUR SOCIAL VALUES.
I JUST READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2023, WHERE THE MENOMINEE TRIBAL ENTERPRISES DISCUSS HOW THEY HAVE MANAGED THEIR FORESTED LANDS FOR CENTURIES. THEY CLEARLY DEFINE THEIR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF THE FOREST COMMUNITIES AND THE BENEFIT IS THE FINANCIAL STABILITY IT HAS PROVIDED THEIR PEOPLE. DOCTOR MICHAEL DOCKRY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT TH UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S FOREST RESOURCES DEPARTMENT STATES, “IN MANY WAYS THEY ARE LEADING THE FEDS IN HOW TO MANAGE FORESTS”.
SAVING OUR PUBLIC LANDS IS ESSENTIAL! CHANGING OUR MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR THOSE PUBLIC FORESTED LANDS IS VITAL!
