Parting Shot.
Don’t you love the “last page” of magazines? the one that has the final words to balance out the Editor’s opening words at the other end of the rag? Well. That’s what this is. Just for TODAY, not for myself or my Blog. Funny.
I was watching the debate tonight and was reminded of an issue I seem to forget in public. And that’s the environment. I was reminded by an article in Backpacker (I’ll try to link this later) this month where a snowmobile biz in Yelllowstone was hoping for Bush because his policy gives them room to continue to rent snowmobiles to those visiting Yellowstone National Park. Well, while I hiked in the Chugach National Forest on Alaska’s Kenai peninsula in July of 2003, I saw FIRSTHAND what these snowmobiles do to the tundra. I can think of at LEAST three specific times while we were hiking or resting when we encountered pieces broken off of the vinyl bodies, sections of plastic windshield fairings, and emblems for that snowmobile’s make and model that had been shorn off on the rocks or broke from an errant landing. Not to mention 2 specific times when I encountered aluminum cans piles from a “beer break” while these good ole boys tore it up in the winter months. This debris was FAR different from the scraps you find in the woods of Michigan or Indiana. Granted, I hate that trash too, it was strange that you could be walking off trail above the treeline, crossing glacier meltwater streams and find this crap that came off of one of these snowmobiles.
Bottom line: I do NOT think I’d base my vote on just this hot button, but I’m made aware of how important it is to me that envirnomental responsibility be made a priority by the President. It ALWAYS comes down to a compromise between making more money (renting snowmobiles, drilling for oil in ANWR, NOT forcing plants to reduce emissions) and preserving the natural resources which we can enjoy today but future generations may not because of our decisions NOW. Make money now (or let our constituents make money now) or deliberately FAST from that because there are OTHER ways to make money.
That said, I’m NOT such a green freak that I lose sight of other issues, or find myself comfortable in the presence of genuine tree-huggers. But I see it as a bigger, core issue of making decisions with the end in mind. Being able to forecast the TRUE opportunity costs. And therefore Kerry gets my vote becaues he’ll continue what Clinton started on tightening the belt with those things that have negative impact on the environment, and Bush is more concerned about Self-Preservation. End of rant.
I had a catch-up conversation with my buddy Chris Manus tonight. He’s in the homestretch of his MFA in Acting out in California and we stay in touch. He’s still a good friend and we always pick up where we left off. I was inspired talking to him. He and his brother Matt are both out there in LA, working on the question, “What’s next?” We all want to make movies and are chomping at the bit to do so. We all have ideas and aspirations and continue to work at them. I get stale when I don’t touch base with these comrades.
Kim’s heading out of town to Ohio tomorrow. I’m going to work on the flooring in the house. That should take all weekend. I might have to lure some buds over to help. Gourmet food and plenty of beer will probably work as bait.
Category: General 2 comments »
October 31st, 2004 at 8:20 am
I have to admit that, though I don’t consider myself a tree hugger, I do find myself putting my arm around trees more than I used to. When I was a teen I used to drop empty pop cans out the window to try and land them under the back tire. The goal being the sound of a can flattening under the weight of the car. Now I am picking up those cans off the road when I find them. I even get mad when I see a smoker toss a cigarette butt out the window…and those things are fairly biodegradeable.
So your story about finding snowmobile parts and beer cans in Alaska definitely smokes my tailpipe…so to speak. On the other hand, I have a few questions about how it relates to political issues…largely because of a freakish debate/SNL skit I saw between Barach Obama and Alan Keyes. (What a riot! I’ll have to tell you about it sometime!) Anyway, here goes:
Do all snowmobilers leave parts, beercans, etc. behind? Is it possible that hikers could leave beer cans and other debris behind? Is the issue the snowmobiles or the the irresponsibility of some individuals? Is it possible that Bush’s stance on this issue is based on issues of individual freedom as well as appealing to his constituencies? Is it equally possible that Kerry’s stance on this issue is an effort on his part to get votes/make money from his constituents and therefore also based on self-preservation?
I don’t live close enough to these areas to understand the exact impact of snowmobiling vs. hiking vs. not letting anyone in at all, but I know there are probably people who love to get out into the wilderness as much as you do that don’t have the physical ability to walk/hike there. And my sense is that it is, as usual, a few morons making things difficult for conscientous enthusiasts. End of my rant.
Congratualations on the site! As usual, you have the energy of three people your size! Talk to ya’ later!
October 31st, 2004 at 10:13 am
Good reply, Lon. I think you’re dead on about all these points. Which you’d expect me to say since I’m voting for a flip-flopper!
And my rant stems largely from the fact that of ALL the issues that are presented in order for us to make a decision, the ENVIRONMENT is one I can wrap my feeble mind around. A lot of the issues, I don’t FEEL I know what’s best for us.
And on that note. A recent observation I’ve made that’s sort of a “fall of the log” statement: Republicans TEND to be “What’s in this for me?” And Democrats TEND to be “What’s in this for US?” And that difference is HUGE for me. Considering that we’re in a BI-partisan (tastes great/less filling, coke/pepsi, american league/national league) SOCIETY, let alone government, we’re somewhat FORCED to pick between the elephant and the donkey.
I think Keith Drury gets it largely correct in his article “Can a Christian Vote Democrat?” And though I can’t comment with authority on ALL the issues that he does, the ENVIRONMENT is one I understand and uphold