This new act is supposibly to prevent forest fires. But, it's just so the lumber industry can make more money with help from G.W. I hate when things turn out this way. I bet the Green party is really upset about this too.

Well, I've searched and searched for a "Wildfire Safety Act" and I couldn't find one. But, I did find the 'Healthy Forests Restoration Act' that Bush just signed into law. It was actually a Compromise reached between both Republicans AND Democrats. The Senators especially of the western states are into this, both dems. and reps. I know, I know. Republicans just care about money and want to burn down the trees and kill all the wildlife in those habitats.
The fact is, to control fires, smaller trees must be cut down and brush needs to be cleared. The new law revises the old one to include protecting even more old growth forests than the former Act. All the old environmental laws are in there. It protects communities and doesn't provide any new authority to log old growth.

Yes, I'm sure the Green Party is upset about this. So are some of the more liberal Democrats who, right now, are focused only on getting a Democrat into the Executive Branch. The current President, a Republican, is systematically widdling down the issues that Dems. can bring against him in the upcoming election. I'd be mad, too, if my party couldn't get all the credit.

zing!

Thanks for the info. I'm better informed about it now.

no problem. I found some opposing arguements from groups like The Sierra Club. I'll take the word of the Senators from either side of the party line who actually formed the bill over the groups with their own interest and power in mind. The Sierra Club says that it takes the power away from the people and put it into the hands of corporations. Feinstein (D-CA) and Wyden (D-OR), two of the original composers of the bill say that it is more empowering than ever for people who want to protest and actually makes it easier for them to be heard. Lawmakers are praising it; Sierra Club and I'm sure other anti-Bush-for-the-sake-of-being-anti-Bush groups are condmening it.

I can definitely see how the disinformation would spread.

(Edited by foldsfan at 7:13 am on Dec. 5, 2003)

Call me an ecoterrorist, but I find it hard to believe that many forests need the Forest Service to manage them. Back in my treesitting days, we were mostly told this when there was some prime lumber that coincidentally was exactly what needed to be "thinned" for the forests' "health". The solution to the dangers of the recent wildfires? Don't build subdivisions in fucking National Forests.

That being said, I know nothing about the actual legislation in question, and mebbe now I'll go read up on it. Just to add some fuel to my anti-Bush-for-the-sake-of-being-anti-Bush fire

Well, I am pretty anti-Bush and most of his choices don't seem very thought out. I just hope will get rid of him and get someone descent in office. Which is anyone but that guy.

Like Swiss downhill great Pirmin Zurbriggen?

So do you write on animal leather with an feather? Or wipe up your natural messes with leaves?

Alberto Tomba

You'll get your wish. after his second term. Good or not, it looks to be the way things are shaping up. I definitely don't agree with everything he has done, (probably not the same hang ups you have with him).

I'm really hoping that a second term isn't in the works for him. I'm not sure I could take another four years of him.

Ha- wouldn't you like to know?

(Edited by Lauren at 7:39 pm on Dec. 7, 2003)

Ah yes, I used to feel the same way about Clinton at this point in his administration. But, in retrospect, I was too young to have a valid opinion on him.

I liked Clinton.

I can remember waaaay back to 1992. It was election year, and I was a young girl of eight years old. I can remember talking politics with my friend Tiffany Pate on the swingset. She told me that her mom told her Clinton was bad because he wanted to kill babies. I was like, "Woah, that's fucked up" only I was eight and it was much more tame. Turns out that meant he was pro-choice....which I am today. Tiffany moved away in the seventh grade, and I think she's attending Lipscomb now.

The End.

I can't even remember that far back. I had problems that I try to forget. But, I am also pro-choice.

No, not really...I just think tree hugging hippies are full of shit hypocrites...

I think people who make broad generalizations are full of shit

I agree with Ceeze.

Whatever...

Tree hugging hippie = one who holds onto to tree and says don't cut this down, it's wrong! Then goes home and writes about how brave they were on a piece of paper with a wooden pencil

Exactly what is so broadly generalized here?

"Fuck The Whales, Save Yourself"

(Edited by Flat Chop To The Throat at 12:03 am on Dec. 10, 2003)

At least you aren't arguing the point.

I didn't realize we were talking about literal tree-huggers. All people who are pro-enviroment aren't out hugging trees. Maybe they are, if you generalizing.

Yet, you liked Clinton at the time...?

I was being sarcastic.

So was I.

And I think people who call me shallow are full of shit hypocrites. And Ceeze & I are never wrong, when we agree.