tvashtarkatena

I don't vote for the party of fascism, Bone. You know that. The GOP...and that would be Ron Paul's party, put those riders in the NDAA. Naughty Obama for signing it, but naughtier GOP for crafting it in the first place.

It's pointless to argue the definition of what is and is not a police state. Much more productive to recognize some very real problems: - that we incarcerate far more of our population than any other society, that our police are now systemically trained to employ a once size fits all, military style violence way too often and way too harshly, and that we are now handing over law enforcement to the military, whose mission is to kill and destroy, not enforce laws. Given that America owns 40% of the world's weaponry, that's a very real problem indeed. The more Americans that become aware of how far out there we are on this psychopathic spectrum, the better. In my experience in talking with the public about these issues, most aren't.

Your posts cause me to truly believe that you're a moron with a tiny bag of unspecific cliches and a case of excessive ball drive that would put a lab with down's syndrome to shame.

Good laws, like the Wilderness Act, are broadly enough written to be adaptive to local sentiment and custom. The law becomes reality - lookouts, grazing, hunting, or none of the above, on a case by case basis through use, argument, and LOCAL adaption. Because of this process, locals should and DO get more say in the policies regarding their nearby Wilderness Areas, even if that law is federal. Locals SHOULD resent and fight a one size fits all mentality regarding the Wilderness Act: such an approach is the very antithesis of the letter and spirit of the law. Rather, it was wisely crafted to respect regional custom, sentiment, and history. We Washingtonians overwhelmingly LOVE our historic lookouts - and the Green Mountain Lookout, built in 1933, should be treated no differently Desolation, Hidden Lake Peak, Three Fingers, or any of the other lookouts that are unquestionably allowed by the Wilderness Act and that, simply put, belong here. Why, then, has a 'me, too' advocacy group like Wilderness Watch fabricated such a ludicrous narrative regarding the Green Mountain Lookout to garner out of state support (anyone who actually knows anything about our lookouts would immediately recognize their propaganda as laughable) for its patently frivolous law suit? I suspect its because their staff needs a paycheck. Pick a battle absolutely no (locals) want to fight, one that will promises to last a good long time, fabricate a bullshit conspiratorial narrative about secret gubmint skulduggery that panders to your ideologically extreme, kooky base, hire a out of state attorneys, and you're off to the races. Right out of the GOP playbook, actually. Real environmental advocacy organizations have better things to do with their donors hard earned money. Anyone wanna bet how Wilderness Watch ranks in terms of administrative overhead costs versus effectiveness?

'Would' costs but a word.

It's not about us, friend. There's no pleasure to be had from another's loss.

That thing looks like it's made of poo.

"You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers..."

Live to see 2013.

SHarta Ballard.

I'm busy trying to convince this spoon why it should be a spork, but I'll get back to you.

A lot more.

I smell better and get laid more than you do.

I will remain awesome.

Santorum LOL

"polypro" LOL

Agreed. It was a tragedy all around. All the jeering to shoot the guy like an animal was sickening, but Alex's compassionate response quickly turned that tide.

Saweeeeet.

Sorry, tvash - you're missing the point and absolutely wrong about this - there is NO variation provision for use of motorized vehiclesin the Wilderness, period!! It's the Wilderness!! I'm all for restoring the lookout.... with pack animals and hand-tools. That's how they do it in the 1.5-million acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in Montana, and the FS managed to restore the historic ranger cabin at Green Fork with only pack animals and hand tools. The helicopter is total bullshit. Once, a plane performed a forced landing in the "Bob" at an abandoned airstrip, and the Forest Service required the plane be dismantled and removed by horseback. The cost of two horses they shot is still less than one or two helicopter flights, so the bottom line is the Forest Service broke (not bent) the rules to provide convenience. Lookout Yes Helicopter and Power tools NO!! Finally, (tvash) don't characterize "Montanans" as leading this - it's only a "Montana-based" national organization. I don't identify with the Unibomber or the Freeman or the white supremacists in the Flathead, yet they're "Montanans". As Leonard Washington said, "better check your tone." (Dave Chappelle during the "Trading Spouses" sketch) Next time you need a rescue from a wilderness area have fun on that pack mule ride. The Gubmint uses motorized vehicles in wilderness areas for rescue, maintenance of historic structures, and other purposes as it sees fit. It uses a great deal of discretion in this. Let's be real: it's not much of a problem. You might give the fly boys at Widbey a call if you're terribly worried about overflights of wilderness areas. I'm sure they'll comply immediately, once they're aware of your concern. The structure was painstakingly repaired/rebuilt by hand just after 2000 but was severely damaged by natural forces shortly thereafter. The FS wisely decided to airlift the structure out and rebuild it offsite to save it (and all the work that had gone into it), primarily because it was about ready to slide down the mountain, an event which would have created a really attractive debris field for all you NO MOTORS! folks to enjoy for generations to come. Thankfully, cooler, less ideologically rigid heads prevailed, heads that considered the WHOLE problem and available solutions, the structure was saved, and a mess was avoided. Finally, it's well known that all Montanans fuck sheep. Duh.

Sweet black and whites, you artist you.

I didn't realize 4x4 ing was really big before 1964 when the Wilderness Act was passed. Hint: It wasn't. In addition, fishermen, and to a lesser extend hunters, constitute the largest habitat preservation advocacy group in the country, not hikers and climbers. I'd say Idahoans probably deserve more credit for their Wilderness Areas than is being given.

I read that as 'bear pig'. What's up wit the big long furry tail on that thing?

Ivan and I are gonna totally aid that shit and fuck it all up. We'll leave ya a pack of smokes at the bottom in a baggy, next to the pile of dropped gear.

Just move to Seattle and be done with it, already. After your cat's been raped a few times by homeless psychopaths and you've replaced your third passenger side window, you won't know the difference. You can always spend long weekends in Eugene to recapture the smells and sounds of Missoula.

In violation of the Wilderness Act's allowance for scientific research, Wilderness Watch is also fighting the installation of remote, unmanned weather stations in Alaska. Yeah...great organization to give money to. Really relevant. Fortunately, they don't write the laws, although it would appear that they think they can re-write them.