Jim McCarthy’s comments relating to the end of
power rate subsidies for farmers in the Klamath Basin illustrate
clearly why conservationists are losing the battle for hearts and
minds outside of our largely urban and/or liberal base of support
(HCN, 2/7/05: Klamath farmers face new threat).
According
to the story, Klamath Basin farmers are faced with losing an
electrical rate subsidy that will likely result in river water
being restored to the river for fish. When given the opportunity to
frame this as an unfortunate turn of events for local farmers who
have been lured into building their lives around an unsustainable,
ill-conceived, and non-free market subsidy, Mr. McCarthy chooses
instead to thumb his nose at the farmers, saying this will bring
“everything back into balance.”
Once again this
reinforces the notion that conservationists always will put people
(especially rural people) last.
Paul
Brookshire
Seattle, Washington
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Enviros need some help with public relations.
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