Letter to the editor

I’d agree with recent criticisms that your paper has taken a turn toward political bandwagoning. It mirrors most of the endless stream of imploring letters from the Sierra Club/Wilderness Society/Audubon Society/Nature Conservancy/Public Land Trust/Trust to Save the Grand Canyon or Silvery Minnow or Spotted Perch, etc., that find their way to my door every week. […]

Looking at the opinions and positions of the writers in HCN, it’s clear that many don’t have the same ambivalence that I have. I grew up in the country of southwestern Pennsylvania and enjoyed it immensely. Always a rebel, I was pro-McGovern and anti-Nixon, and gradually became a Reagan Republican, ever retaining my love for […]

I am writing in support of HCN’s coverage of the Bush administration’s attack on the environment. I suppose, at one point, wanting a healthy habitat for human beings was a nonpartisan issue. Unfortunately, it seems these days if you care about anything that could be vaguely termed “social equity” or “conservation,” you’re automatically a pinko-commie […]

Regarding the note in “Dear Friends” about readers troubled by HCN’s tough coverage of the Bush administration’s policies across the West: Let ’em be troubled and angry! These are troubling, angry times. The Bush administration is carrying out an array of highly controversial policies across the West. I speak as one who’s been reporting on […]

I am a longtime subscriber to HCN. The willingness to address the political causes of land-management decisions in the coverage of HCN was striking, with the selection of a new executive director. But I believe that it is important. Politics is the modus operandi of the corporations and their political allies who recognize only the […]

I have worked for a rural California land trust for five years, and wanted to respond to Mr. Gerber’s comments in his letter to the editor, “Caveats on easements” (HCN, 4/26/04: Caveats on easements). I wholeheartedly agree with his suggestion that landowners think long and hard before placing conservation easements on their property. Conservation easements […]

Jon Christensen’s article, “Who Will Take Over the Ranch?” is very timely, and covered a lot of ground (HCN, 3/29/04: Who Will Take Over the Ranch?). I own a small ranch in a sensitive area in northeast Washington, and have spent the last three years discussing conservation easements with a land trust located in another […]

In a recent letter, Neil Snyder wrote that “today’s party is not your daddy’s Democratic party, and you’ll have a hard time attracting conservatives to support it” (HCN, 5/24/04: This isn’t your daddy’s Democratic party). His arguments were disingenuous on at least two counts. He alluded to the fact that two Democrats got us involved […]

The May 10th edition contained yet another article praising an effort to protect wilderness. HCN presents these efforts as being promoted by grassroots groups, and as a result, of this reporting, the typical HCN reader is likely to conclude that there is a true grassroots movement for wilderness in the West. Unfortunately, this is not […]

Lydia Millet describes landscape photographs as seen in calendars and posters as pornography because “they offer comfort to the viewer” and “serve as surrogates for real engagement with wilderness” (HCN, 4/12/04: Die, baby harp seal!). Many of the individuals I know who have experience traveling in wilderness realize that landscape photographs can be both simulations […]

Thank heaven for Lydia Millet (HCN, 4/12/04: Die, baby harp seal!). Her challenge to us all — especially to proponents of sentimental, cutesy environmental promotion — is to find “the guts to assault us with the ugly impacts of our own appetites,” rather than the romanticism of the animal and scenic porn of environmental calendars […]

In response to Dave Skinner’s essay, I must confess to being what he calls a “greenie” (HCN, 5/10/04: Motorized recreation belongs in the backcountry). But I implore you, Dave, don’t give up all that quickly. You might have allies you have not counted on. First, however, allow me to establish that in western Nevada where […]

So, Dave! What happens when the real world doesn’t fit in to your neat, simple categories (HCN, 5/10/04: Motorized recreation belongs in the backcountry)? Say, for example, when an avid hiker (and former NRA member) also avidly defends her family’s right to have fun on their ORVs — or advocates responsible, sustainable logging, grazing and […]

I recently read Jon Christensen’s piece about the loss of ranch land in the West to development (HCN, 3/29/04: Who will take over the ranch?). Obviously, the public, primarily through its federal government, which has the most money to spend, has an interest in preserving these lands. This piece made me think about the Iraq […]

Jon Christensen does a great job in portraying one of the biggest issues facing the conservation community in the West: the constantly increasing pressure to develop and subdivide (HCN, 3/29/04: Who will take over the ranch?). However, he fails to address an important question raised about land trusts: What will be the character of the […]

How refreshing to see a thoughtful, well-researched article about ranching in HCN, as opposed to the usual ritual bashing of cows and trashing of ranchers (HCN, 3/29/04: Who will take over the ranch?). Though HCN Executive Director Paul Larmer suggests that the paramount question is not, “How do we save ranching?” but rather, “How do […]

Your recent article on “Imagining a Democratic West” was a refreshing attempt to really examine the political realities of the West, rather than just engaging in the usual Republican-bashing (HCN, 4/12/04: The One-Party West). As one of the many conservative Westerners who really does care about our environment, I’d like to see some changes that […]

Daniel Kraker’s assertion in “The New Water Czars” that Indian tribes lease their water for more than $1,000 an acre-foot is inaccurate (HCN, 3/15/04: The New Water Czars). Yes, Del Webb Corporation leased 10,000 acre-feet of water from the Ak-Chin for $12 million — but it was a one-time, up-front payment for 100 years’ worth […]

I strongly disagree with Jon Margolis’ apology for George Bush (HCN, 3/29/04: Bush is a man of his word: He’s audacious, but should that be surprising?). There used to be qualities such as decency, broad-mindedness and vision in our leaders. Having won the presidency with less votes than his opponent, only because of the quirky […]

Why is it that the environment is almost a taboo subject in American political campaigns? Voters need to know the candidate’s stand on environmental issues! You can bet we will learn a candidate’s stand on same-sex marriage, but not their stand or views on the amount of toxic pollution power plants emit into our air. […]