Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
It's kind of strange. The Dnr's Craig Engwall assures us the process is a real one, that decisions regarding the forest have not been set in stone. He assures us that when we meet in Cotton and in Rice Lake there will be a real openness to the ideas of the people.
Then we hear the ATV clubs from Minneapolis are coming. And we're told that everyone's mind on the County Commissioners Board is made up. There's no wiggle room.
This ought to make Dennis Fink just frolicsome with joy. He becomes positively effervescent when he talks about bringing thousands of OHV tourists to the forest.
And Patty Rutka says it's not an environmental issue. On Mars. No one finds it important to point out ole Patty's husband is the ATVAM lobbyist for our area. A paid professional promoter of ATVs right there in the living room.
Then we hear the ATV clubs from Minneapolis are coming. And we're told that everyone's mind on the County Commissioners Board is made up. There's no wiggle room.
This ought to make Dennis Fink just frolicsome with joy. He becomes positively effervescent when he talks about bringing thousands of OHV tourists to the forest.
And Patty Rutka says it's not an environmental issue. On Mars. No one finds it important to point out ole Patty's husband is the ATVAM lobbyist for our area. A paid professional promoter of ATVs right there in the living room.
The News Tribune in Duluth has a good article about the ATV situation today. It seems so complicated when you read about it. The core issue is that there is an industry, and a big one, that wants ATVs, 4 wheel drive trucks and motorcycles to use the forests to drive around in so that they will sell more ATVs, 4x4 trucks and off road motorcycles. They want a managed designation so that they can get as many trails on the ground as fast as possible.
It's what's called an "astroturf" movement, as opposed to a grassroots one. There's lots of money filtering down to the groups that will advocate for the destructive toys to be used for fun in the forest. It's a big business.
The issue is one that is being debated all over the nation. It's driven down to local areas where people are strapped for time and they are unable to delve into all the details. It takes forever to learn the terms of this industry, then there's a new one.
It's what's called an "astroturf" movement, as opposed to a grassroots one. There's lots of money filtering down to the groups that will advocate for the destructive toys to be used for fun in the forest. It's a big business.
The issue is one that is being debated all over the nation. It's driven down to local areas where people are strapped for time and they are unable to delve into all the details. It takes forever to learn the terms of this industry, then there's a new one.
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