Obama and Salazar take back the crumbs they kicked Wilderness advocates
‘Wild lands’ order revoked – BLM can no longer grant wilderness-like protection – Idaho Mountain Express
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar wrote a memo to bureau Director Bob Abbey on Wednesday confirming that the BLM is not authorized to designate any of its land as “wild lands.”
“The protection of America’s wilderness for hunting, fishing and backcountry recreation should be a unifying issue,” Salazar said in the memo.
Comments
So all of that bootlicking by big enviro groups did what?
Not quite sure I would agree with your descriptive active verb, Ken. But I understand the continued frustration with the ineffectiveness of environmental groups of all shapes, sizes and locations in reaching the ears of both Interior and the White House and Congress. Given what I hear from friends back there, there is no willingness even by traditional allies of the environmental community to grant access much less listen about the issues that this blog and its members care so deeply about. I basically have concluded that no matter what tactic was going to be used, it was not going to bear fruit with this Congress, President, or his Interior and Dept. of Agriculture appointees.
So, where does that leave us? Courts, certainly. Making Dem office holders more accountable to environmental supporters? Definitely though it may require some patience as we see some people win elections we would rather not see in office if we make good on our promises of non-support if they don’t go to DC and vote their promises to us.
I see a future period of pain…
I think blaming Obama and Salazar on this one is not so useful. Yes, they could soldier on, but the real culprits are the western Republicans who passed the rider defunding Salazar’s plan — Idaho’s Rep. Mike Simpson,and Senators Crapo, Risch, and the rest of the congressional Republican oligarchs.
In April they bragged about defunding it. I didn’t hear much of a cry from any environmental groups then.
I believe you’re very correct. The “environmental” groups, whatever that means nowadays, seem to chronically neglect to do their homework and ensure they fully understand the political realities (every redneck western and southern state gets two senators like every other state and, if too many of those senators are GOP, then Democrats won’t be able to do anything to stop them). Too many “environmentalists” seem to always be damning the Democrats with faint praise, which spreads across state and local electorates, just because they think it’s cool to have a cocky attitude. Often “environmentalists” spend their money on outdoor equipment and figure the campaign funds are somebody else’s problem. Often they stay away from the polls on election day because, although they like to say cocky things about politics, they think politics and especially actually standing in line to vote way are beneath them. Then, they slam the Democrats for not delivering everything they want on a silver platter. It doesn’t work that way. The GOP is very well funded, wants to turn back time to recreate a feudal system in which “environmentalists” are just another flavor of serf, and we’re in the biggest battle for the soul of America since the Civil War. People need to wake up, smell the coffee, and realize what side they’re on …and what side they’re not on. Trying to pick a path through the middle won’t work this time; the rightwing isn’t “talking it over” and they aren’t taking prisoners.
The Wildlife News even posts it as a motto…
“Fence straddlers have no balls. In compensation, however, they enjoy a comfortable seat and can retreat swiftly, when danger threatens, to either side of the fence. There is something to be said for every position.”
~ Edward Abbey
Well, gosh, this doesn’t change the very real observance that there are still many millions of acres of “wild lands” across the United States. Too bad most have absolutely zero protection.