Patch

Environment
March 1, 2005
Bush Plans Further Cuts in Forest Protections
Next Monday marks the final day for public comment on a proposed new Bush Administration rule that will restrict public input and environmental review of forest management plans under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). It will also rescind wildlife protections that were established decades ago under President Reagan.
Under the Bush Administration's proposed forest plan rules, it would no longer be necessary to complete an environmental impact statement, a basic requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). WHY ??? What is going on that the public should not know about? The environment is being sold out. Do you people know that most logs off our national forest go to Japan. Not saw mills in the US but JAPAN.
In the Patch’s mind, the dangerous thing here is limiting public input. This administration wants everything to be secret. What could be more dangerous to a democracy then secrecy? The troubling thing with the Patriot Act and the Home Land Security Act, everything is secret, no only from our enemies, but all of us. A democracy cannot work in secrecy.

Patch Asks

Qwest-MCI merger may cost 15,000 jobs! Come on humans, can these mergers really be good for you. How much are 15000 jobs worth? And this is just one of hundreds of mergers. Is this in your self-interest? Do we understand monopolies?

Autism; the Patch has read that cases of autism are up 600% in the last 10 yrs. What’s with this, know one seems to know.

Gun Control; The Patch has been around guns all her life, I mean what good is it to be a rabbit dog and not have a shotgun? But come on, assault weapons, uncontrolled handguns? Our inter cities are war zones, most crimes are with handguns, assault weapons next. The conservative answer is legal conceal weapon laws. In other words, defend yourself. Do you think this is the answer? Has to be a better way. Handgun registration, assault weapon ban, be a start.

The Patch