OCR Text |
Show PAGE 13 THE ZEPHYRJAN'FEB 1992 I Friendly Daves Corner Market Cartoon Ad I fcwr right now. Plunder end pillage In the short term and poverty in the future-b- ut that's the kids' problem. For those raised In a culture of Instant gratification, for a federal agency to hold back any natural resources for future generations (like their children), Is Intolerable. Nature's treasure chest must be pried open and emptied now. That way the parents can once again party away their children's Inheritance. They Believe In Multiple Use? The federal law definition of multiple use Implies the fair and equitable sharing of the resources of the public lands, not only amongst those presently living, but also among the future citizens of this country. This couldn't be much further from what Is meant by the "Multiple Use" advocates In southern Utah. What they want is the unrestricted right to grab as much of the natural resources of the public lands as they can, as fast as they can. Highest and Best Use of the land is part of the credo, where highest and beat, of course, means most money, most profit, NOW. Federal law advocates the conservation of values such as scenic vistas, wildlife habitat, recreational resources, as well as the obvious commodity values. "Multiple Use advocates champion the supremacy of extractive commodity laws like the 1872 Mining Law and the grazing laws, single use policies like the typical excessive logging practices, and the damming of rivers wherever possible. Maybe I'll believe they're sincere about their definition of multiple use when I hear Manuel Torres advocating grazing cows on the Moab golf course. Just think of all the good forage being wasted by mowing, when the cows could be eating It Of course the putting might be a little rough with all the cow plea on the greens, but then Moab could be the first true western golf course. The golf course might also be a good place for a nice, competitive motorcycle race course as well. Lots of good places for spectators to watch from as the motorcycles tear up the greens and blast through the sand traps. But I sort of suspect that Manuel might rather have the motorcycles out there on your hiking trail or in your favorite cannon, rather than on hla golf course. Such are the mysteries of "Multiple Use as practiced by its CAte Two Movements and the Destruction of the Public Lands Somewhere In the middle of the night, in that twilight zone where it and destruction me like to occurred that the this written, degradation ongoing get things movements. of our public lands could be attributed to the two major means their believe we have those who On the one hand improving their financial worth through whatever profit making use they can get away with on the public lands. This pillage of the public treasure is sometimes called the "Multiple Use" or "Wise Use" movement. On the other hand, the folks who supposedly actually care about the land, seem to be expending all their energy on the other type of self- - Improvement, where they seek to attain enough spiritual and psychic strength and purity that they will eventually be able to enter the political and public arena without becoming tainted with all the muck and slime that is so much a part of those processes. Well, none of us gets that far. When we're out wrestling greased pigs in the mud, we just plain get dirty. We say stupid things; we make mistakes; we hope we get a third or fourth chance to do it at least a little better. It's embarrassing. But who else is going to protect the land we value, if not us? brain-damag- ed . ALL-AMERICA- N AGENCY 505 No. Main 259-649- 3 devotees in southern Utah. Economic Development Will Improve Your Ufa? Sure, if you like higher taxes on your property, higher rents, more congestion, greater abuse of the public lands around us, or Increasing restrictions on our freedoms. But economic development Is great If you're trying to get out of Moab. You can sell your house for more, and not worry about the suckers left behind who have to pay the higher taxes. Around the country, communities are finally beginning to realize that the actual economic impact of most housing developments Is NEGATIVE While there Is an Immediate short term Increase In the tax base, there Is a greater long term Increase In the costs of providing utility services, roads, and school facilities. Only with the assessment of large development Impact fees can these costs be mitigated. Of course, here in Grand County, we're still giving Incentives for development, which takes money out of the taxpayers' pockets and gives It to the developers. Great for contractors; great for developers; bad for the taxpayers. My Meet Our Real Estate Team Doug McElhaney owner Delbert & Clenna Oliver Norma Nunn 259-687- 8 259-737- 0 259-727- 5 Ray Tibbetts 259-636Julie Bierschied 259-5671. Randy Day ' 0 259-628- 3 . Column Is Accurate, Quality Journalism? If you have any doubts, Just ask Moab'a environmentalists like Jimmy Walker, Bette Stanton, Gene Nodlne, the County Commissioners, etc., what they think of the accuracy of my environmental extremist their jargon, slander, and Ilea, what they think of the irreverence of a newcomer to question land their fathers stole from the Indians, the land deep and abiding "love" for the land-t- he "love It again, they are now trying to take back from the American public, so that they may in their very own special way. Of course noL ii's "Beyond Reality. self-proclaim-ed - . |