Re[2]: [at-l] AT Fund On Income Tax Form

[Bob C." <ellen@clinic.net (Bob C.)]

>"...Since there is no interest in a real effort to improve federal
>contributions to the AT and related interests, I find no reason for AT-L to
>devote further time to respond," claims OB after delivering a diatribe that
>pretty much misrepresents everything RnR had to say.

It's these kind of deliberate personal attacks by folks like OB that tend to
make some days on this list a bit painful.

I happen to agree with OB's -- and RnR's -- basic position that any income tax
checkoff exclusively for the AT, has virtually no chance of passage, at least on
the federal level. The state's are a different matter, as RnR wisely points out.
Maine has checkoffs for a variety of issues and the Legislature adds to them
periodically -- somewhat to the dismay of those of us who liked the initial
emphasis on conservation.

But neither did RnRs, ironic and well argued response, warrant OB's personal
attack. RnR's reasoning was rational, despite OB's claim to the contrary.
Whatever personal attack OB discerns was mild by the standards of the list and
grossly exceeded by OB's reply.

RnR has demonstrated again and again that he has multiple interests. You OB are
the one who repeatedly demonstrates your interest in finding some  issue that
gives you an excuse to make personal attacks on list members. And on our sister
Trail Advocacy list.

TA had some growing pains getting people to discuss rationally and without
personal attacks, but from time to time we have managed to discuss important
matters.  TA is not trivial as OB claims, but it is pretty much beside the
point.

 As I predicted when TA was unwisely created with the help of OB's urging, AT-L
members continue to post advocacy matters where the majority of listers
participate. That's the nature of advocacy -- to seek the widest possible
audience.

However, TA has had some successes, at least in getting participants to respond
without indulging in  personal attacks. OB should come over. He might learn how
to respond to a sincere effort at presenting a position with other than by
distortion and personal diatribes.

We managed to mostly wean RnR away from such behavior. Now let's all work on OB.

Weary