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Anthony P's avatar

Regrettably, the “Roadless Rule” has come into conflict with the “Lawless Rule.” Unlike the Roadless Rule, the Lawless Rule is the actions of a regime that simply does not believe in the rule of law. Whether it’s trampling the rights of citizens, issuing presidential pardons to domestic terrorists, levying tariffs against countries which act to punish their own lawbreakers, selling off our public lands to the highest bidders or performing countless other acts which violate the Constitution of the United States, not to mention the high ideals which all of our elected leaders ought to aspire to, this regime has committed itself to the destruction of the American democracy. I have labeled their despicable actions the “Lawless Rule.” Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins (a.k.a. the “Little Villain”) is among a constellation of larger villains who are acting in concert to transform a once great democracy into a banana republic. As you have pointed out, if this matters to us then it’s time that we speak out and keep speaking out until our elected representatives start listening.

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Will Pattiz's avatar

Lawless rule is right!! Always with the perfect quote and phrase - thanks again Anthony!

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La's avatar

I have but one quibble with what you wrote, which is that in this current nightmarish case, “administration” should be “regime.” Other than that, it’s tragically right on 🎯.

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Will Pattiz's avatar

Agreed

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Anthony P's avatar

I agree with you and have therefore amended my comment. Thank you.

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La's avatar

Thank you, Anthony, for your gracious response! ☺️

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Monet Lion's avatar

Absolutely, La.

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Michael's avatar

For the very first time I have to partially disagree. In the lower 48 I fully agree. But with climate change and the increasing burning of the boreal forests worldwide, don't we have to make an exception in Alaska's case and put in fire lanes or some such access for fire mitigation purposes? The picture in my mind of such lanes is ugly but the idea of the whole forest being burnt is even uglier.

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Will Pattiz's avatar

Michael, really appreciate you chiming in and raising a fair point. Fire is a real threat, and Alaska’s forests are absolutely feeling it.

But the Roadless Rule already makes room for fire mitigation, public safety, and restoration work. It doesn’t block that. What it stops is permanent road-building that usually has nothing to do with fire and everything to do with opening land for logging.

The science actually shows more roads can increase fire risk in some places. They bring in more people, more ignition sources, and often make ecosystems more vulnerable, not less.

Plus as we well know, what’s happening now isn’t about fire planning. It’s a political move to open up wild lands for extraction, using fire as the cover.

Another wolf in sheep’s clothing.

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Uma Krishnaswami's avatar

The Roadless Rule is one thing the US got right, far more effectively than here in Canada: https://davidsuzuki.org/press/organizations-release-state-of-the-forest-report-countering-governments-annual-account-of-loggings-sustainability/

It’s only one of the many effective, sustainable measures this regime is determined to gut.

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John Koleszar's avatar

The Roadless Rule is simply one of the problems we face. The invention of OHV's has caused more problems than simply abandoning the Roadless rule. The forests now have become the battleground for habitat destruction versus the right to use public lands! With the lobbying efforts of the major manufacturers and states allowing unfettered access to all lands with recreational vehicles, the forests and public lands are all suffering......

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Jim Pattiz's avatar

It's true. It's a very nuanced problem with a lot of facets. However, the clear and present danger is the abolition of the roadless rule altogether by this administration. I'd love to get back to some level of sanity where we can rein in OHV use once we have the historic protections back in place.

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Matthew's avatar

God gave us these beautiful wild areas and they must be protected and preserved. The Trump administration, which ignorantly doesn’t believe in climate change and thinks it’s a hoax, is the worst administration for the environment in history. Their short term thinking in this area is appalling. Think long term and immediately reinstate the Roadless Rule.

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