House Republicans seek to open up national forests to mining and logging

[Tom Joad]

Environmental rapist Republicans at it again.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...ildlife-refuge

Congress is to consider two bills that would allow states to hand over vast tracts of federal land for mining, logging or other commercial activities – just weeks after the arrest of an armed militia that took over a wildlife refuge in Oregon in protest at federal oversight of public land.
Analysis Oregon militia explainer: background to the standoff
Takeover of wildlife refuge began as protest over conviction of two ranchers on arson charges, but militia also have more deep-seated grievances
Read more

The legislation, which will be presented to the House committee on natural resources on Thursday, would loosen federal authority over parts of the 600m acres (240m hectares), nearly one-third of the land mass of the US, it administers.

A bill put forward by Republican Don Young would allow any state to assume control of up to 2m acres of the national forest system to be “managed primarily for timber production” in order to address what Young claims is a decline in national logging rates.

A further bill, written by Republican Raúl Labrador, would allow state governors to assign up to 4m acres of land as “forest demonstration areas”, which would allow logging free from any federal water, air or endangered species restrictions.

[bobabode]

It's a good thing we have a democrat in the WH to veto such crap.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by bobabode

It's a good thing we have a democrat in the WH to veto such crap.

Agreed.

That said, I'm not a wanton tree hugger. If this were WWII and we needed steel for Essex class aircraft carriers? I'd consider mining, for example.

But there's no bar here to meet beyond greed.

Not good enough.

[finnbow]

I just love hiking and backpacking in clear cut forests.

[Oerets]

This is a look into the mind of one who believes they are the chosen masters of the world rather then member of it. Short sighted and selfish giving little thought to the future.

But that pretty much sums up the GOP!



Barney

[donquixote99]

You left out 'bought and paid for.'

[MrPots]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Agreed.

That said, I'm not a wanton tree hugger. If this were WWII and we needed steel for Essex class aircraft carriers? I'd consider mining, for example.

But there's no bar here to meet beyond greed.

Not good enough.

Yea, we can never have too many killing machines can we. And when the earth has been totally raped and only the rich own trees, we can live in those killing machines.

Maybe the earth will get lucky and a deadly plague will wipe out mankind first.

[/snark] Doncha just love the capitalist who get to say dictate that the people don't have a right to natural beauty and natural beauty has no right to exist.... that anything, everything, and everyone is expendable if it'll earn a buck?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by MrPots

Yea, we can never have too many killing machines can we. And when the earth has been totally raped and only the rich own trees, we can live in those killing machines.

Maybe the earth will get lucky and a deadly plague will wipe out mankind first.

[/snark] Doncha just love the capitalist who get to say dictate that the people don't have a right to natural beauty and natural beauty has no right to exist.... that anything, everything, and everyone is expendable if it'll earn a buck?

You miss the point: if the option is killing machines or nothing, I'll take the machines.

Until then, every option is superior.

[MrPots]

And my point is that we always make exceptions for killing machines, but never make exceptions for peace, taking care of our earth or our own.

That is why we are going to fail.

Not an attack on you Zeke...just an observation.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by MrPots

And my point is that we always make exceptions for killing machines, but never make exceptions for peace, taking care of our earth or our own.

That is why we are going to fail.

Not an attack on you Zeke...just an observation.

No issues.

Have a good day.