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Thankfully.
We've just been through one of the nastiest
election seasons in my memory - save one which
had a television advertisement with an atomic
bomb and only ran one time against Barry Goldwater.
Unfortunately the "Truth in Advertising" laws
do not apply to political campaigns or we would
be seeing far fewer of them. Perhaps congress
will repair the law outlawing 'soft' money and
the 527 groups will not to able to attempt to
buy the next election.
There were winners and losers. Frankly, I do not
recall the 'conservatives' being as distraught when
their candidate lost to Bill Clinton. Nor do I
recall protests in the streets or the vandalism
of Democratic election offices. I do recall the
winners were decided the same or next day after
the election.
Here in Washington state we still
don't know who the new governor is. Ah, progress.
Perhaps all change is not for the better? Change
for changes sake can be misleading.
Did you vote?
If so, hurrah. If not, too bad. You just lost.
As vitriolic as this election was we here at FAOL
did not comment on either campaign prior to voting day.
There still is more than enough hard feelings on
the Bulletin Board about the Presidential election.
Sad as that is, it isn't my point.
I'm not saying at all the Presidential race was not
important - BUT - it may not have been in your
local community. Who ran for the local zoning
board? What was their platform? Who were your
county commissioners? Who are they now? Are
they conservationists or all for progress and
paving more parking lots? Will Walmart be allowed
to pave over the wetlands as happened here?
A few years ago I called the campaign office of
Gary Lock, then running for Governor of Washington
state. I asked what his policy was on the major
salmon problem here. How did he feel about
hatcheries? His spokesperson said he didn't
have a policy nor an opinion. Turns out that
wasn't true, and his biggest campaign donor was
Tyson Foods, who owns the biggest fleet of fish
factory boats in the world. Lock served 2 terms
as Governor. I voted against him both times.
Nothing of course was done about a net ban, nor
the rape of our inshore fisheries. However, the
Washington State Democratic party won two big
elections. The so-called party of 'conservation'
was never required to explain that one.
We do need a strong leader at the national level,
and regardless of your opinion or how you voted,
the majority did elect President Bush for a second
term. (For the first time I believe in 18 years.)
What happened on your local level? Is your river,
stream, lake receiving the protection and attention
it needs? Who is paying attention and managing your
watershed? If not, why not? Who are your local
leaders who are pushing for conservation and
preservation? Or are all the 'big guns' Realtors
and developers? Do you know?
Other than complain and whine, what specifically
have you done on your local level to preserve and
enhance what is left? What have you done to promote
open space? Public access? Clean water? Green belts? Better
fishing?
It's four years to the next national Presidential
election. Two years before many in Congress are
up for election. But it is only ONE year before
some county offices are up for election.
Educate yourself. Attend county commissioners or
city council meetings. Find out what is going on.
Discover what the pressing problems are in your
community! Get involved - or at least educated.
Just being partisan doesn't cut it.
Remember the old saying "Charity begins at home?"
So do elections! ~ DLB
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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