[at-l] OT: Political essay.

[ellen at clinic.net (Bob C)]

And the political fight continues. Those who opposed land conservation in the 1930s and 40s, continue to oppose. For the second year in a row Maine Republican Legislators seem to be about to block a referendum vote on a "LAND fOR MAINE'S FUTURE" bond issue. The last bond were approved by a nearly 2-1 margin. These bonds have contributed directly to the protection of around 500,000 acres that otherwise would have gone to developers like Plum Creek.

Additional thousands of acres are under negotiation to provide a buffer adjacent to Baxter State Park. Maine has among the smallest percentages of public land in the nation. The political descendents of the enemies Roosevelt seem intent on keeping it that way. 

A one-time opportunity to protect some of the special wild places in Maine is being killed by what I think of as "political vandalism" made possible largely by the failure of most citizens to be bothered to engage in political debate. Whenever land bonds get on the ballot they are approved. But it is not an issue that voters pay attention to when they choose legislators.

Weary