Re: “Preserving wilderness areas vital to maintaining the health of Puget Sound” (Viewpoint, 9-26).
So, Bill Ruckelshaus, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Martha Kongsgaard of the Puget Sound Partnership want to preserve Washington’s wilderness by giving the other 49 states a vote on how Washington should manage its forests.
I guess they did not notice all the forest fires that originated on improperly managed federal lands in Eastern Washington. I guess they do not understand that allowing forests to grow wild creates the ideal conditions for forest fires.
Why do the authors and three members of Washington’s congressional delegation want to allow the other 49 states to vote on and control our lands? I cannot answer that, but wouldn’t it be better if those lands were returned to the citizens of Washington? I think the citizens of the state have a much better idea of how to manage their own forests.
It all sounds good in theory, and all the urbanites will believe this bill is helping to save the planet. Maybe the citizens of Washington could save their own little piece of the planet without the “help” and control of the other 49 states, and maybe Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Norm Dicks and Rep. Dave Reichert would quit taking our rights and sending them to D.C.