Sunday, December 20, 2009

~ ~ ~ The Proposed Village at Wolf Creek ~ ~ ~ a 1250 word summation 12-24-9



Wolf Creek Pass, home to some of the deepest snowfalls in Colorado and source waters to the Rio Grande River, has also become home to an epic battle between Reaganomics style development and old fashioned conservation interests trying to protect a vital resource.  

The developer B.J. “Red” McCombs is determined to build his “Village at Wolf Creek”, a speculative town of eight (or ten), thousand residents, located at ten thousand feet elevation to the lee of America’s Great Divide. In 2008 McCombs’ decade long effort resulted in losing his critical court battles and having his original Environmental Impact Statement thrown out because of illegal developer manipulation of the EIS process. McCombs has now fallen back on another plan and is pushing Congressman Salazar to do his bidding through a Congressional land swap bill. This bill would trade a large portion of Mr. McCombs Alberta Park parcel, for a neighboring parcel a bit lower on the slope and adjacent to US Highway 160.


Congressman Salazar asked local communities for feedback. In the town of Pagosa Springs, in neighboring Archuleta County, two government boards addressing the question rendered a split decision. The County Commissioners will send a letter supporting the legislative exchange — with conditions attached —  while the Town Council has so far declined to support the land swap as proposed. 

McCombs’ proposed Congressional bill would bypass the National Forest Service’s established procedure for such a land trade request. If successful, in one deft move McCombs would avoid the sensitive fens wetlands on his existing parcel, and cozy up to US 160 with new, more buildable land. This Congressional edict would also eliminate procedural oversight and (unwanted) public input to his future development decisions. 

What is Mr. McCombs, the mega car dealer, actually planning to build up on the Great Divide? The developer’s artistic renditions portray a beautiful grand village, harmonious and planned (although when one looks deeper, it’s obvious they are oblivious to the environmental conditions a town perched at the top of the Great Divide would be subjected.) In truth, all that’s really established is that Red plans to build a hotel, a condo and subdivide a section, build some roads, drive in “For Sale” stakes — then wait for the onrush of buyers.  

That is as far as Red’s commitment to the local community goes. A number of local representatives publicly commented that both Red and Clint Jones, the Austin developer spearheading the land swap for McCombs, fail to respond to queries and are evasive about plans or giving assurances. McCombs seems to be saying, “Give us your commitment first, later we’re sure to consider your community concerns, trust us.”  

But, where is the “good faith”?  

All this does nag at public officials. But, in the end, most tossed up their arms and with a sigh remarked: Well, you know, it is his land and his sacred property rights, so there is nothing we can do to stop him. 

Problem is, this attitude ignores “the rest of the story.” 

You see, back in 1986, through shrewd manipulation of the golden rule, Mr. McCombs wrestled Alberta Park away from its protected fold within the Rio Grande National Forest. Visit FriendsofWolfCreek.org’s Whitepaper, which documents the twisted history. Mike Soraghan’s Denver Post article: “Wolf Creek Development Tangled With Political Ties” (2-5-6) is another eye opener.  

Or google “Wolf Creek Village Presentation from Colorado Wild” and find “westdavies”  on YouTube. Davies is broadcasting a recent presentation by Ryan Bidwell from Colorado Wild — 9 parts and information packed. Interestingly, Clint Jones spoke the next evening but refused to allow West Davies to record his presentation ~ thus indicating that he refuses to stand behind his word. The significance is: all of this undercuts the developer’s lofty claim of property development rights. 

Another more important issue continually ignored is the overwhelming value of the land in its natural, undeveloped state. Alberta Park’s location in the heart of pristine source waters for the Rio Grande River make it a keystone parcel within that watershed and biological community. The meadow, fens and forest make up a fantastic assortment of biological activity and productivity that ultimately benefits all downstream inhabitants of this interstate, international river.

Alberta Park isn’t just another piece of local “real estate.” It belongs to an integral carpet of land, serving a life-giving function just as it stands: source waters to the Rio Grande River. It’s part of our national endowment — originally set aside for the benefit of all future generations. Red wrenched it out of its protective fold. Alberta Park is not Mr. B.J. McCombs sacred private property, it is tainted goods! 

The other argument in support of this speculative venture is our need for economic growth. In fact, at one meeting a local representative reminded us: “It’s the economy, stupid!” 

But isn’t the issue more complicated than a simplistic jingle which implies that building something, anything, so long as we can put a few people to work — even if it’s only a couple seasons — is good for the community? How does that help the young families who are trying to think in terms of decades? 

There is a great deal of avoidance going on these days. No one wants to look our growing economic/biosphere monster in the eye. But, all indications are that society is coming to the end of a creation-old spendthrift era.
 
The incoming economic battle cry is: “It’s about the sustainability, stupid!” The essence of sustainability is protecting our resources, especially water. It’s easy for communities near the source waters to overlook what an incredibly precious commodity it is. If you don’t believe it, go down to the Mexican border and watch the people on both sides struggling with a greatly depleted Rio Grande River water supply. 

Which brings me back to Alberta Park. A couple of representatives did muse about their love for that land, and confessed that if they had their way, nothing would be built up there. But, then voted against it.

Their words indicate they know what a precious commodity Americans have up there atop Wolf Creek Pass. Why don’t they fight for it? Well, one reason is our representatives need our support and pressure. We, the people, supply the backbone politicians need to stand up to driven billionaires. 

Right now, Congressman Salazar is being pressed very hard from many sides of this issue.  The scary thing is, in the real world, money doesn’t talk — it screams.  And Red is one determined billionaire. More than ever Salazar needs to hear from people who believe that Alberta Park and its surroundings are a national water resource treasure that should remain unmolested.  

If you care, please contact Congressman Salazar (and your other representatives) and ask them to put some effort into taking this whole issue back to first base. Figure out a way to get that Ill-gotten land back into the protective fold of the Rio Grande National Forest. That land, all of it, deserves to remain unmolested for the greater national good.
 
Why not switch the focus? Convince Mr. McCombs to STOP. He doesn’t need to be doing this. He could simply leave that area alone. 

Those parcels of real estate up near Wolf Creek Pass — although I would call them priceless biological gems — are serving a valuable, life sustaining function just as they are.  

Instead of saddling our communities with another destructive White Elephant, why doesn’t Red bequeath to his country the B.J. “Red” McCombs’ Sweet Water Biological Resource Preserve, dedicated to all downstream children yet to be born? 
 

{Thank you http://www.lutheransource.net/WolfCreek.htm for the image of Alberta Park}

Reflections on local meetings regarding Mr. McCombs land swap scheme

Dear Editor, local Representatives and Congressman Salazar,

I felt a bit like a party crasher at the BoCC and Pagosa Springs Town Board meetings this past week. On the one hand, I can appreciate annoyance at some outsider poking his nose into local issues. On the other hand, I hope people appreciate that Alberta Park, located within the unspoiled source waters to the Rio Grande River isn’t just another local real estate issue. What happens up there will ultimate effect all down stream inhabitants of an interstate, international river.


Consider the claim made at the Town Board meeting: “It’s the economy stupid!” This way of thinking implies that building something, anything, so long as we can put a few people to work ~ even if it’s only a couple seasons ~ is good for the community. What good does that do the young families who are trying to think in terms of decades?

There is a great deal of avoidance going on. No one wants to look our growing economic/biosphere monster in the eye. But, all indications are that society is coming to the end of a creation old spendthrift era.

The incoming economic battle cry is “It’s about the sustainability stupid!” An integral part of sustainability is protecting our resources, especially water. It’s easy for us up here to overlook what an incredibly precious commodity it is. If you don’t believe it, go down to the Mexican border and watch the people on both sides struggling with a greatly depleted Rio Grande River water supply.

This brings me back to Alberta Park. I heard a couple representatives muse about how they love that land up there and if they had their drothers nothing would be built up there. Then vote against it. Their words indicated that in their hearts they know what a precious commodity Americans have up there. Why not fight for it?

And this brings me back to my intrusion. Red McCombs’ Reagan era pipedream is a huge mistake in the making, and since so few are screaming bloody murder, I will. Why? Because I’m haunted by too many examples of counterproductive destruction of critical natural resources that I’ve watched go down over the decades.

Please, put some effort into taking this whole issue back to first base and figuring out a way to get that ill-gotten land back into the protective fold of RGNF. That land, all of it, deserves to remain unmolested for the greater national good.

Sincerely,

Peter Miesler
La Plata County

Monday, December 7, 2009

Friends of Wolf Creek Action Alert... stop Red McCombs

The following is a cut and paste directly off of the Friends of Wolf Creek website. Since they are the authority on Alberta Park and the Red McCombs saga, and one of its stanchest defenders, their information is worth sharing.

I am not affiliated with them, but I sure do support them!


Friends of Wolf Creek

Needs Your Help to Stop McCombs’ Latest Attempt

to Circumvent Public Review and Involvement

Alberta Park - Site of the Proposed Development

November 5 , 2009

They are at it again!

As you may have heard, Red McCombs has hired a new development team and is again working to push through his plans for a “Village” at Wolf Creek. Their new plan involves a new land exchange to facilitate access to their private land, and to acquire additional developable property. McCombs' team is heavily lobbying in Archuleta County and we need your help today to fight off this proposal.

McCombs remains unwilling to trust his project to any traditional process of public analysis, disclosure, and decision-making, and has therefore hired a new team of lobbyists to attempt to circumvent this review process through a legislative land exchange to gain not only access, but also additional developable property. With a number of well known and well-respected lobbyists and development firms on board, McCombs is now courting Congressman John Salazar to sponsor the legislative exchange. Fortunately, Congressman Salazar wants to hear from local communities and local elected officials about whether he should get involved in a land exchange.

What is on the Table
McCombs' new development team is trying to convince the public (and the BOCC) of why the land exchange is such a good idea, and why the legislative approach is not just more of the same backroom deal-making that we've seen all too much of before. Expect a slick presentation, and a growing list of promises to do this and that to address Archuleta County’s concerns. We need your help to challenge them on the details and stand up for the legitimate public review process that Friends of Wolf Creek has been fighting to maintain for more than a decade.

McCombs is giving the public a “choice” between an illegal 10,000 person development plan that they could never build (what they like to call the “approved plan”), and the new land exchange plan which would result in a slightly smaller development of 8,000 people. How is that for choices? In addition, McCombs’ developer is promising to listen to the concerns of the public in Archuleta County, but only if they get your support up front for a legislative land exchange. The “support me now, and I’ll listen to your concerns later” approach might fly in some parts of the country, but I hope that Archuleta County won’t buy stock in this scheme.

While the land exchange is concerning on its face (exchanging valuable developable land with highway frontage for McCombs’ wetlands and other undevelopable land) Colorado Wild is far more concerned about the process McCombs is pursuing to try to receive approval for the exchange. Rather than go though the traditional Forest Service land exchange review process – in which the public would have a chance to weigh in and the Forest Service EIS would disclose the impacts (pro and con) of the exchange before making a decision – McCombs and his new band of lobbyists is asking Congressman John Salazar to perform this land exchange legislatively.

Although McCombs is currently claiming that they will “try” to get their EIS done before the bill passes Congress, that is one promise they won't make. Nor is Congress under any obligation to consider the potentially significant impacts that we anticipate will surface through a thorough EIS process. Who do you think will have greater influence over Congress' decision, McCombs or you and I?

What You Can Do?
Congressman Salazar has yet to take a position on whether he would consider performing the land exchange through a bill in Congress. He and his staff are currently waiting to hear from local elected officials and the public about this proposal. We need your help to get the word to Salazar to say NO to any legislative land exchange. After more than 20 years of waiting, the public deserves a thorough and transparent analysis of the Village’s impacts before any decisions are made about a land exchange or other strategy to facilitate development of this land. Rather than a legislative run around, McCombs should go through the traditional Forest Service review process including a robust public involvement process. You can contact Congressman Salazar’s offices locally at:

  • 813 Main Ave, Ste 300, Durango, CO 81301, 970-259-1012
  • 609 Main Street, #6, Alamosa, CO 81101, 719-587-5105

Contact Your Elected Officials
McCombs and his teams are heavily lobbying your local elected officials to get their support for this project. We need your help to push back and ensure that McCombs doesn’t win the special treatment he is seeking.

The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners recently wrote a letter to Congressman Salazar expressing concerns about a legislative exchange. They need to be thanked for taking this important step, and encouraged to continue their opposition to the legislative proposal:

  • John Ranson - District 1, jranson@archuletacounty.org, 970-264-8304
  • Clifford Lucero - District 2, clucero@archuletacounty.org, 970-264-8303
  • Robert Moomaw - District 3, rmoomaw@archuletacounty.org, 970-264-8305

Contact the Pagosa Springs Town Council today and ask them to oppose a legislative land exchange (e-mails are included here, but phone calls are also encouraged):

  • Ross Aragon, Mayor, archie2@centurytel.net
  • Mark Weiler, District 1, mweiler@parelli.com
  • Don Volger, District 2, ddvolger@gmail.com
  • Darrel Cotton, District 3, noki@pagosa.net
  • Stan Holt, Council Member at Large, pagosaholt@centurytel.net
  • Shari Pierce, Council Member at Large, sharipierce@pagosasprings.co.gov
  • Jerry Jackson, Council Member at Large, pagosasprings@hotmail.com

More Details on What is Proposed
McCombs is proposing to exchange a roughly 200 acre portion if his current private land for a roughly 200 acre parcel of National Forest property which is adjacent to McCombs’ current property. McCombs is trying to trade away more than 70 acres wetlands and 100+ acres reserved for skiing in easements. In return for these undevelopable lands, McCombs is seeking property with highway frontage on US Highway 160 and that is generally free of major wetlands. Clearly, the parcels in question are of unequal value (equal value is a requirement of Forest Service land exchanges), but that has not stopped them from seeking legislative support for their proposal.

McCombs’ new front man Clint Jones and their team of lobbyists are beating the streets in Pagosa, South Fork, Del Norte and Creede, making promises and trying to build support for the land exchange. Like other attempts to circumvent public review that McCombs has attempted over the last decade, the legislative land exchange is just the latest attempt to avoid or otherwise “streamline” scrutiny of this project’s potentially significant adverse impacts.

Clint Jones is promising that they will even do an EIS after they get approval for their land exchange from Congress. But what is the point of doing an EIS if the decision has already been made? Why ask the public to weigh in if the deal is done? If McCombs was really willing to address the public’s concerns wouldn’t he want to ask for feedback up front?

Despite all the promises, we are aware of no public benefit of performing this land exchange legislatively. We need your help TODAY to help turn back McCombs’ latest attempt to fast track his development scheme.

For More Information
Contact Paul Joyce at Colorado Wild at 970-385-9833 or paul@coloradowild.org




{Thank you http://www.lutheransource.net/WolfCreek.htm for the image of Alberta Park area}

Archuleta County Commissioners, please reject Red McCombs proposal

Open Letter to the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners regarding Red McCombs current land grab scheme:


Here we go again. On one side we have “Red” McCombs who back in 1986 through shrewd manipulation of the golden rule wrestled Alberta Park away from the Rio Grande National Forest. Visit Friends Of Wolf Creek.org to view their whitepaper for documentation. Also Mike Soraghan’s Denver Post article: “Wolf Creek develop-ment tangled with political ties” (2-5-6)

Now nearing 2010 McCombs wants to wrestle another more “advantageous” parcel away from the Forest Service > and environmental oversight toboot. For this plan to work he must enlist the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners as accomplices. It’s easy to understand what’s in it for the developer. But, why would Archuleta Commissioners stand behind and support such a boondoggle in the making? The potential for harm, to the Alberta Park watershed and to future county finances far outweigh the flimsy potential for a viable luxury village up at Wolf Creek Pass.

We are dealing with a man’s dream of taking that pristine high mountain watershed resource ~ part of the headwaters to the Rio Grande River ~ and turning it into a chunk of Real Estate and a Backlot for some fanciful Luxury Resort Village for eight or ten thousand wealthy vacationers. But, how many would actually want to live there year around?

This is at ten thousand feet elevation, just to the lee side of the Continental Divide at 11-12 thousand foot elevation? In an average winter thirty-six feet of snow will fall, with wind blown drifts that can bury homes. They can expect freezing temperatures eight months out of the year. The average wind speed is 11 mph, stormy weather brings 50 mph winds and when things get intense it’s a gale topping a hundred miles per hour. Is this an appropriate setting for a successful luxury town?

The Village at Wolf Creek is a dream born during the heady Reagan years when America convinced itself there were no limits on our expectation for ever greater luxuries. Haven’t we learned better? I sincerely wish Red McCombs and those of like mind would STOP and seriously look at how their blind compulsive grasping for ever more consumption is robbing our children’s future.

Look around at our economy, our commitments, and the flow of events. The dream of a Luxury Village of eight or ten thousand wealthy vacationers enjoying cold alpine weather conditions, belongs in a Hollywood movie... > Not perched on the edge of the Colorado Great Divide.

What about the vast operational expense$ and the infrastructure that must be maintained whether the homes are sold or not, lived in or empty? The town at ten thousand elevation will need well planned, faithfully executed civic infrastructure: police, medical facilities & personnel, schools(?), communications & IT infrastructure, providing & maintaining power utilities, street maintenance, water supply & sewer system maintenance through a long winter and deep blanket of snow. Oh and snow removal, just where will they put all that snow they need to scrap off the roads and roofs? Are they planning streets a hundred feet wide like in Silverton? The list goes on. Who will be picking up the tab?

What part of this plan is feasible? A developer’s smooth sales pitch and lubricating gold should not be enough to convince civic leaders to fall for such a chimera! Look at the lower elevation areas around Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado ~ they have a frightening saturation of unsold vacation homes, as documented in a Pagosa Sun article by James Robinson (7-8-9). Why add to the glut? Also see Mark Pearson’s (3-5-9) Durango Herald: “(Luxury) Resorts morph into “toxic” real estate assets.”

How is this going to work given the current economic prospects? Especially since the only purpose for this alpine Village at Wolf Creek is satisfying the dream fulfillment of rich people with too much money. Considering what’s happening in the financial world, even rich folks don’t have the loose change they used to. “If you build it, they will come” sounds great in the movies and ad campaigns but in the real world of flowing seasons and the 2010’s it rings mighty flat.

McCombs finds himself on the side of American thought that proclaims ‘Too Much Is Never Enough.’ This faith is coupled with an outlook that demands a ‘Full Speed Ahead With Eyes Glued To The Rear View Mirror’ mindset. This project is all about such 80/90’s thinking. We have seen time and again how this free wheeling self-certain focus on development at all costs, has saddled communities with precious resource, money, energy & time robbing obligations. Why allow this community to be led right into another such trap? Why invite an expensive destructive White Elephant into our community?

So, what about the other side? It represents a conservative perspective. It looks beyond grand fancies and short term profits and believes such irreplaceable biological gems as Alberta Park with it’s surrounding meadow and forest land is a precious biological resource and part of the national endowment that belongs to our younger generations. Akin to a national treasure or even a National Security Water Resource Area. It believes Red McCombs should do a truly patriotic thing and grant that land back to the American trust through some sort of conservation easement arrangement: “The Billy Joe ‘Red’ McCombs Fresh Water Biological Preserve” dedicated to all down stream kids yet to be born !

As representatives you have been entrusted with looking toward the future and the greater good. Truth be told in general representatives have too often failed we the people, in carrying out that mandate due to the golden rule.

Therefore, we the people stand before you powerless ~ yet, pleading for your better judgment to out shine your faith in economic notions that are proving to fail us when we need them most. Protect that productive natural resource up there at Alberta Park. Reject Red McCombs fanciful and dangerous notion of a new land grab. Reject the pipedream of bulldozing a luxury vacation town into the middle of that pristine biologically productive high mountain alpine watershed.
Please vote in favor of Leaving It Alone.

Sincerely, Peter Miesler ~ Durango, Colorado ~ http://citizenschallenge.us

{For the record I am unaffiliated with FWC or any other entity involved in this matter.
My allegiance is with Alberta Park... and that fantastic gem of a watershed. pm 12-7-9}
Thank you http://www.lutheransource.net/WolfCreek.htm for the image of Alberta Park.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Three Cheers to Congressman Alan Grayson

10-2-9

Dear Honorable Representative Alan Grayson,
I had the great privilege to make your acquaintance through a serendipitous visit to TheYoungTurk - http://www.youtube.com/user/TheYoungTurks -
Then, I went to C-Span to listen to the uninterrupted recording of your speech before the Congress.

Congressman Grayson, yours was a jaw-droppingly honest, blunt speech that needed to be given before Congress.
Thank you so much ! ! !


Furthermore... Your ability to stand up to the CNN interview assault was even more impressive !

You are a rare spark of hope for rationality.
You nailed the issue on the head and I salute you for your spirited assault upon the Republican penchant for peddling Willful Ignorance.

With regard and best wishes,
From Durango, Colorado

Peter Miesler

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Village at Wolf Creek: Why not a Nature Conservancy resolution?

Also see December 2009
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
also see: www.no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Last week the Durango Herald was filled with news about the reawakened push for the Village at Wolf Creek speculative development. First Red McCombs hires Michael Dino a heavy weight Democratic lobbyist. His mission - bring in the money cannons. Dino knows where to aim them for greatest effect in developing political channels for side stepping public review.

As the week unfurled we learned the new plan was hinged on a new land swap effectively moving the development a few hundred yards. Also, ‘Hal Jones Development’ is now proposing a resort merely three-quarters the size of the original ten thousand person conception.

The key ingredient to this new strategy would be Congressman Salazar sponsoring a land-swap bill. As Clint Jones, of HJD, says John Salazar is the only one who could credibly carry the land-exchange act through Congress. This may be true, but credibility is hard won and easily lost.

It seems difficult to believe Congressman Salazar could be swayed into compromising his credibility to join this speculative real estate scheme. Should you oppose the idea of developing Wolf Creek, now would be a good time to drop Congressman Salazar a line at http://www.house.gov/salazar/contact.shtml. or (202) 225-4761 or (970)-245-7107 or (719)-543-8200.

In another article US Senator Bennet speaks of “serious concerns about the potential impacts” and “We need to keep a close eye on the matter and get answers to a number of questions...”

Here are some starter questions: How viable is this eighties pipedream of building a small village at 10,000 elevation to begin with? Look at today’s economic reality and outlook. Consider the under appreciated future ripple effects our continuing rising chronic unemployment will have.

Look at the lower elevation areas around Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado ~ they have a frightening saturation of unsold vacation homes, as documented in a Pagosa Sun article by James Robinson (7-8-9). Why add to the glut?
Also see March 5, 2009 Durango Herald's story "(Luxury) Resorts morph into "toxic" real estate assets."

Why risk that high value fresh water resource?

Remember we are talking about source waters to the Rio Grande River. Any digging and construction will disrupt, even destroy portions of an exquisitely tuned biological super-organism, one that produces any number of priceless services for all down stream inhabitants. Moving the project a few hundred yards one way or another doesn’t change that.

When will developers appreciate that some places deserve to be left alone because they are of a caliber that warrants being considered National Security Resources?

There is also the matter of the original “dirty land swap.” Documented in Mike Soraghan’s 2-5-6, Denver Post article: “Wolf Creek development tangled with political ties.”

B.J. Red McCombs may hold legal title but, he does not possess ethical or moral title to that land. Therefore some of us continue to beg Mr. McCombs, and now his daughter, to please revert that land to some Nature Conservancy status, protecting that irreplaceable resource for the greater national good.

The solution really is that simple. Leave that parcel alone to remain an unmolested portion of an indescribably important biological super-organism. It would be a fitting gesture for someone who recently received the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars award for “corporate citizenship.”

If you agree, please encourage Red McCombs to reconsider his priorities. He can be reached through http://www.redmccombsmedia.com/us/contact-us .

Sincerely, Peter Miesler
Durango, Colorado

PS. Mr. McCombs doesn’t “The Billy Joe “Red” McCombs Fresh Water Biological Preserve” ~ dedicated to all down stream children yet to be born, have a nice ring to it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information visit Friends of Wolf Creek at http://www.friendsofwolfcreek.org/

Thursday, September 3, 2009

An Essay Concerning Our Weather

Printed in The Humanist,  
Nov-Dec, 2005  
“Katrina and Rita in Context”







There has been something missing from the recent news coverage in the aftermath of 
Hurricanes Katrina's and Rita. No one seems to be reporting on the real story ~ namely the 
weather.



These most recent storms should encourage U.S. citizens to recognize that we are facing a 
powerful entity that has only begun to barge into our American way. Look up into that 
beautiful sky overhead and consider its substance, dynamics and might. Our atmosphere is 
the product of more than four billion years of ongoing evolution ~ geological as well as 
biological. It's a tenuous veil of gases that lays upon the surface of our earth, thin as 
the finest silk upon your skin. This veil has a most interesting structure, one that's 
worth thinking about.



Our atmosphere is composed almost totally of nitrogen and oxygen. Interwoven into this 
medium is a gossamer thin admixture of everything else: thousands of different compounds 
that can be grouped into almost two hundred distinct families. Combined, these compounds 
make up less than one percent of our atmosphere's volume. Most of this volume is made up 
of inert compounds and noble gases, so called because they don't react with their 
surroundings very much, if at all. Within this matrix of nonreactive molecules is 
another, yet thinner community of reactive compounds. By volume, these reactive 
components total less than four hundred parts per million. This is where the action is. 
These chemicals are always reacting with each other: they combine, split up, mutate, 
affect neighboring molecules, change characteristics ~ and they do this at nonstop 
hypervelocities. This is the scaffolding over which energy, moisture, and heat perform 
their weather ballet.



What's new is that, over the past two hundred years or so, humanity has been injecting a 
third category of ingredients: human-made and human-generated. By volume, this new genre 
consists mainly of substances already present in the atmosphere, only now they are being 
added to in unfathomable quantities ~ and they belong to the reactive families. Then there 
are the "exotics": creations of science and industry that make up a small but usually 
highly reactive percentage. Many of these compounds are totally new to our atmosphere. 
All told, society has been injecting millions upon millions upon millions of tons of 
these gases and particulates into our atmosphere at ever-increasing rates. So much so 
that the very composition of our atmosphere ~ the weave of our atmospheric veil ~ has been 
significantly and verifiably altered.



This is cause for concern because our atmosphere is in actuality a heat engine. Its 
matrix of gaseous and particulate components are the valves and pistons. This engine is 
powered by the sun’s energetic rays and the result is our weather: the global 
distribution of energy, heat, and moisture. But each compound we've introduced interacts 
with the sun’s energy according to its own unique thermo-hygroscopic-chemical profile. 
Recent weather fluctuations are little more than a physical reflection of our 
atmosphere's composition.



Remember all those environmentalists whining about pollution, global warming, and 
all that? Well, it isn't mere delusion. Scientists have been discovering and recording 
these changes since the end of World War II. For more than forty years now, satellites 
have been visually recording the stains, rips, and acid burns that we continue to inflict 
upon the veil of our atmosphere. The increasingly sophisticated information they gather continues to have ominous implications for the future as well as the present.



While the media discusses global changes in terms of global averages, keep this in mind: 
there is no "average" patch of ground or water on this planet. Pollutants aren't added as 
amorphous averages. They are injected into the fabric of our atmosphere as ribbons of 
varying concentrations and volumes. It's true that today scientists have convincing 
evidence that some global areas are experiencing a warming trend, while others are 
experiencing a cooling trend. There is nothing reassuring about this.



Think about our atmosphere as the heat engine whose role it is to seek a globally 
balanced distribution of energy, heat and moisture. This engine has evolved to a delicate 
state of dynamic equilibrium. Remember, it is the profile of temperature gradients and 
barometric differentials that provide the throttle behind this engine's drive to maintain 
its equilibrium. Inject extremes and it will react in kind ~ it makes no difference to the 
engine. It does, however, make a difference to humans and the biosphere as we know it.



Science has consistently shown that nature is always vastly more complex, interwoven, and 
unpredictable than the human intellect is capable of imagining. Why won't we allow this 
lesson to sink in? Why be surprised when weather continues to become more chaotic? 
Admittedly, no one can accurately predict how weather will change. But who can deny that 
it will continue to change, and at an accelerated rate? We can kid ourselves, but we 
can't fool nature.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

{Note: A previous version of this article was printed in the November/December 1995 issue of The 
Humanist.}


Friday, August 14, 2009

Reflections On Justice Sotomayor’s Confirmation Process

About two weeks after the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearing finished, I began writing about it and was immediately kidded: It's an obsolete topic, no one cares any more, people have moved on.

Now, months later, Justice Sotomayor sits on the bench listening to arguments - so why visit what went on last summer? Because it needs to be pointed out that her questioning exemplified a favorite Republican tactic in dealing with people who have a more progressive, rational world outlook.

Since the same tactic is being used today to combat medical-insurance reform efforts, I believe examining Republican and media behavior during the Sotomayor confirmation hearing is relevant today.

The hearing highlighted the all-too-familiar right-wing "politics by evasion and attack," which take small tidbits of truth and morph them into deceptive, emotionally supercharged PR bludgeons. Then, the proponents justify their evasive and hostile tactics by reaching back to self-serving faith-based dogma. Unfortunately, religious absolutism, absolutely distorts all attempts at examining the real challenges facing our future.

When President Obama nominated Judge Sotomayor for the US Supreme Court she sounded like a real ‘Mensch’ to me. I remember going on the web and doing some biographical searches on her. They reinforced my original ‘feel good.’ After that I scanned some of the usual right wing suspects to hear their take. Then, I listened to Sotomayor speeches that were available on YouTube.

I noticed the Republicans had no dirt on this lady. Thus, was surprised by the viciousness of their attacks and distortions. Attacks manipulating a very few quotes from speeches that to rational thinkers should have been starting points for a genuine discussion.

Ironically, the most vocal “anti-Sotomayor” Senators supported nominee Roberts who had a mere two years of judicial experience, having previously built his career on steam-rolling his extremely partisan goals. (something reflected in his demonstrably corporate loving approach to running the high court) Yet, today, a nominee with more court room experience than any nominee in a century and no political involvement, someone with overwhelming positive support from her knowledgeable peers ~ is told she’s not worthy because she is willing to recognize and discuss complex aspects of being a person? Whatever happened to ‘fair-play’?

When the Judiciary Committee Hearings began, the News reporting was dismal. Typical of the coverage was WNYC’s ‘On The Media’ which said: “As for the nominee, Slate Senior Editor Dhalia Lithwick says the hearings served as an elaborate calculus of 19 different ways to answer a question at length, without saying anything.
“ 'You can say the question is too broad so you can't answer it, you can say the question is too specific, so you can't answer it. You can say that was so far in the past I can't talk about it, or it’s so far in the future I can't talk about it, and so on. You know, there’s this whole formulation of how you don't answer questions, so why do we spend four days watching this with bated breath is actually the better question.”

Such media reporting inspired me to look up Cspan and listen to some of the Hearing for myself. It was a revelation! Not only did Judge Sotomayor do way less evasion than reporters and Republican Senators were peddling, but her answers were actually interesting. Interesting enough that over a couple weeks I managed to listened to the entire Judiciary Committee Hearing. I also rediscovered what a fantastic resource Cspan is, check it out on the Web. I myself gained a whole new level of appreciation for what a judge is, how the job & process works, and even why circumspection is a necessity in a quality judge. I also learned about why some cases proceed following channels created by the rule of law, even though we on the outside may disagree with that direction.

As for Lithwick’s question, may I suggest reporters should have been “listening” instead of only half watching with distracted minds. This hearing didn’t, and wasn’t supposed to, contain fireworks - instead it was a slow careful examination of the questions asked then answered by an exceptional jurist who wasn’t going to be bullied into dramatizing for the camera.

Mr. Lithwick, a worthier question would have been: Why did Senators Sessions, Grassley, Kyl and Hatch act as though they never heard a single Sotomayor answer? Why did they read through their questions like some sort of preordained scripture, never pausing to consider her words?

These Senators acted more like Officials Brooking No Decent, than men on a fact finding mission. Why does our media allow such Senatorial misbehavior to go unchallenged?

Another question should have been: Why couldn’t Republican Senator’s come up with more meaningful questions? Why where we subjected to cynical simplistic ideological monologues, which were more reminiscent of old plow-horses endlessly plodding the same field with no conception of anything beyond their own furrow. (OK, there where some Republican exceptions, but not near enough.)

Another question for the media's Litwicks: Why couldn’t any reporter put Judge Sotomayor’s reticence into perspective? The right wing and reporters act as though they expected Sotomayor to expound like some crony at a bar. But, she is a long standing honorable intelligent Judge. Weighing every word is second nature to her and has nothing to do with evasion. We expect nothing less from our judges. Tragically, our politically motivated Republicans would rather label this fine jurist an “enemy” and trash her ~ than allow her to share some refreshing insights.

More and more, Republicans are coming across as though they believe only they have “worthy” answers and anyone who thinks differently must be demonized no matter how many lies need to be fabricated to do so.

Why? By what right or justification? Haven’t Republican senators and media cheerleaders been culpable enough in heinous, astronomically costly mistakes of judgment these past few years that have harmed our country and future? What gives Senator Sessions, et.al., the gaul to act so condescendingly - if not destructively?

For me, watching Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor traverse the political mine-field during those months of her nomination these past months has put new substance behind the old adage: “Don’t Trust Anyone Over Thirty!” Kids, it has never been more accurate!

I say this because if the level of questioning and thinking by Senators Sessions, Kyl, Grassley, Hatch, along with all too many others, including reporters, is any indication of how these people will meet our oncoming challenges, boy oh boy are you younger generations in trouble.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Reflecting upon the moon landing and how far we have come

or as the editor to the Four Corners Free Press put it:
"The Dark Side of the Moon Landing" ;-)



At fourteen I got permission to camp out in the living room for three days running, no school, no play, little sleep. Seldom leaving the couch and then only for a quick pitstop frigstop & occasionally going outside to meditate on the actual crescent moon up there in the sky, then back to the TV.

Something fantastic was happening and I didn’t care how many times I listened to repeated news-flashes gone stale because I was determined to hear every next world premiere news-flash as it happened. Besides, the repetitions echoing on the TV networks gave me a chance to digest the story. Even better there were these great side-stories about mission details that never made the news shows.

Come Neal Armstrong’s small step for a man, but big leap for mankind and it was my Dad’s Birthday. The living room was full of family and a few hours of celebration infused with the profoundest aura: For the first time ever! People were actually standing on that midnight orb of my imagination ~ while the whole world watched!

After the party I remained glued to that TV until Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin blasted off from the moon to rejoin Michael Collins and begin their return to earth. My, and I dare say humanity’s, gaze upon the moon has never been the same. It was a fantastic achievement, exemplifying America’s ingenuity, can do and promise.

Yet, even at my tender age there was also an unshakable sadness about the moon landing. The man who made it all possible had been taken from us by forces unseen but resented ever after. It felt as though along with Kennedy a certain attitude of solidarity, (or was it just civility?), with the rest of humanity was systematically being abandoned.

Championed by Ronald Reagan and his driven economics ~ along with all the dirty-tricks needed to make it happen. Before our eyes the rest of the world was becoming nothing more than a potential profit point.

I believe it’s this evolution in our collective outlook that has step by step and season by passing season, ushered in today’s reality of a world full of intensely pissed off people running amok. Nor to be forgotten is the creation of uncountable masses of dispossessed refugees huddled in destitute pockets throughout the world. For what? So westerners can pretend living has no limits?

For nearly fifty years I’ve listened to the beautiful promises made by politicians, businessmen and scientist. Great strides have undoubtedly been made, but I’ve noticed there has been a tremendous cost attached to everyone of our successes. Disaster after disaster the battle cry remains: “Move along; don’t look back; let’s not dwell on it (read “think” about it); put the past behind you; move along now.” All these years watching “solutions” consistently creating more “unanticipated” problems than anyone of 'em solved is really disheartening.

All the while the masters of the universe continue selling each other more weaponry and ideological garbage, and our major religions continue playing their role of turning “God’s Will” into bludgeons for beating everyone who makes them uncomfortable.

The moon landing was a political act meant to prove we could do it, thus awarding us a feeling of invincibility. Why than, have our ‘quality of life’ issues imploded?

As much as I loved it back then, today I can’t help but think people would be far better off pulling their heads out of their heavens and refocusing their attention back down here, to this incredible little battered blue gem of a planet.

The one and only speck in the vast void of our Universe that can claim to be the cradle of all life. And, incidentally, the only home our future has.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

why is the right wing scared of Sonia Sotomayor?

I've submitted the following letter to the Durango Herald editor:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regarding Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination
~~~


Those damning words keep ringing in my ears: “ A wise Latina woman would do a better job of judging than a wise white male.” Quite the affront against those powerful white guys who were always convinced they alone possessed omniscient judgement.


On the other hand, one of the hallmarks of a judge is an internalized sense that they, personally, do indeed possess clearer judgement/responsibility skills, along with a greater sense of obligation and duty. Makes me wonder why the right wing knocks Sotomayor for her healthy confidence, when balanced confidence is part and parcel of being a successful judge, let alone Justice of our US Supreme Court.

What’s below the surface? Why are right wing extremists so angry & scared of this confident little lady? Are the likes of Senator Sessions, Coulter, Limbaugh, et. al, too unprepared for allowing a Sotomayor to sit as an equal in this ultimate establishment Club of nine?

Are they worried because they don’t want the like’s of a Sotomayor having a chance to present her perspective directly into the high court? And, what would be wrong with that? Looking at the demography of this country it is hard to understand how people who trumpet “democracy” can despise someone who’s only sin is recognizing who she is and being proud of it.

Sotomayor’s public record reflects decades of honorable, very competent judicial service to her country. Our Supreme Court needs a good shot of main street reality. Left wing, right wing, and all who are in between, need this person, judge Sonia Sotomayor, to take her rightful place at the “round table” of nine respected elders, for all her merits, glowing achievements, intelligence, humanity & pride.



*****************************

Monday, June 15, 2009

Cheney's May 21st American Enterprise Institute speech examined

In May ex-Vice President Cheney went on a publicity offensive against the Obama Administration. Within a few weeks he seemed to give more press interviews and speeches than during his entire tenure in the White House. Thanks to the wonder of the internet & YouTube one can listen to his crowning AEI speech, and I have, a few times over. Being on the internet I was also able to fact check some of Mr. Cheney’s telling along with my own memory of events.

The speech was given May 21, 2009 at the American Enterprise Institute and what I found was that Cheney defended his entire case like a great novelist. Building and weaving his story and its substance to fit his chosen solution to his plot’s dilemma. Though that works great for writers of fiction who are welcome to use artistic license to move their story along, it’s not how to run a government, build a sustainable future, or trumpet a policy.


During his speech Mr. Cheney radiated incredible conviction and even stronger ego, but, he also showed himself incapable of admitting to any short coming or mistakes. That begs the question: what good is his judgment if he is incapable of honest introspection?

Reflecting this is a remarkable anecdote regarding the ex-Vice President. Cheney was describing the Bush Administration’s doctrine on dealing with terrorism. He is quoted saying, “If there’s a 1% chance that Pakistani scientists are helping al-Qaeda build or develop a nuclear weapon, we have to treat it as a certainty in terms of our response. It’s not about our analysis ... It’s about our response.”

Cheney’s speech reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to that mindset. It makes me wonder: How can this man remain oblivious to the astounding negative consequences his actions have had for our United States of America? (Ron Suskind’s book “The One Percent Doctrine,” documents how this world view effected Bush Administration actions.)

The trouble is, the world’s full of potential disasters and conceivable threats lurk in every direction. If one is going to put all their energy into every imaginable potential threat that comes to mind they’ll drive themselves insane... while missing actual incoming threats. There needs to be some intelligent evaluation, prioritizing and careful planning. Otherwise you’re just falling prey to one’s own paranoia and unrestrained pipe dreaming.

For instance, Cheney claims “You can look at the facts and conclude that (our) comprehensive strategy has worked, and therefore needs to be continued.” What has worked? Where is America any better off? Where are things being resolved constructively?

If there’s any comprehensive strategy to be teased from events, its a strategy of pursuing war for war’s sake. Only then do Bush Administration neocon actions fall into place and make sense. Their own New American Century documents support such an interpretation. Projecting power and exercising military options is an end in itself for ex-Vice President Cheney. But, is that what America needs? Didn’t Washington and Eisenhower expressly warn against such folly?

Cheney claims success because al-Qaeda hasn’t struck our homeland since 9/11. That conceit is filled with too many flimsy assumptions. Did al-Qaeda actually try again? Did they have to? After all American’s were ,... are, doing a pretty good job of tearing itself down - from damaging our own economy, to vandalizing our world position, to damaging our own military, to how Americans are being encouraged to distrust and even despise one another. This seems Cheney’s true legacy.

When we get to the Abu Ghraib torture scandal Cheney is quick to throw military personnel off the cliff. Where’s the man’s honor or sense of loyalty as he lectures us? Furthermore, his words are directly contradicted by reams of official documentation and the tenor of his own words back then. Cheney championed going to extremes but now condemns the soldiers who were carrying out his orders. It’s Cheney-speak at its ugliest.

Cheney says, “(Obama) can project values, and that’s fine, but we need to project strength and that has to rule in certain situations.” True enough. But, only when it makes sense! What’s the sense behind projecting strength in the form of vengeance-lust inspiring shock and awe, while leaving the heart of the real perpetrators to enjoy the successes of their terror?

So far as on the ground happenings - we have invaded & demolished a nation that was not a strategic threat to our nation. While the Administration’s half hearted attempts to track the true perpetrators of 9/11 have only served to train and harden al Qaida and bring in a huge fresh young generation fired-up by the atrocities they experienced at the hands of Cheney’s “projection of strength.” Yet, Cheney still doesn’t recognize that might & military strength must be handled with wisdom - and acts of wisdom require an ability to admit to mistakes and to learn from them.

I do agree with Cheney that documents relating to intercepted plots should be released. (But, here again, he lies in that it is the CIA not Obama who’s holding back those documents.) Cheney believers constantly refer to their facts, facts that upon closer examination too often turn out to be smoke, mirrors and ideologically motivated deceptions - therefore, it would be valuable to see those documents. Then Americans can decide for themselves how well they can believe Cheney’s boast of thousands, even hundred’s of thousands of lives saved.

Another dishonest aspect of Cheney claiming facts support him is that he steadfastly ignores the huge body of documented contrary facts as reported on sites like www.bushlies.net or www.bushwatch.com and others.

Solutions won’t be found in ratcheting up the paranoia and encouraging yet more faith-based hostility. Seems to me, the tenor of the myopic absolutism Cheney preached in his recent fear mongering tour displays an approach that in the cold glare of reality once again acts more as al-Qaeda’s booster than America’s protector.

One of the tragic hallmarks of faith-based reasoning is that only the facts fitting ones ideology are acknowledged, and a blind eye to all else is considered a virtue. Sadly, such thinking will only further damage our children’s future.

Shouldn’t we, as a nation, do better?

Sincerely, Peter Miesler
Durango, Colorado

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Regarding National Public Radio News

Recently I’ve made a new hobby of dogging NPR, National Public Radio.
As a decades long listener I see myself as having a vested interest and like to think of myself as a member of the loyal opposition.

You see I do believe NPR is first rate on many levels, even its news has its glowing moments.

But, these trying times demands better than last administration’s status quo of ignoring all that don’t fit the official storyline.


I’ll admit I’m no expert on the deep background, but I do know the Cheney/Bush Administration failed in various attempts to cripple NPR.
Three cheers for the public outcry that stymied them!
However, I also noticed that they sure managed to get NPR News programming watered-down.

I believe the time has come for a more thoughtful assessment of real world facts & science to retake its rightful place within the NPR News lineup.
And for this I shall continue dogging my pals at NPR
as "myperspectives"

I’m sharing the following because I think it’s a good short synapsis of a point I keep trying to enunciate regarding the financial/biosphere interface



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104841465

Expert Still Backs Investing In Stock Market

All Things Considered, June 2, 2009 · Jeremy Siegel, professor of finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Stocks for the Long Run, says he still thinks the best investment in the long run is the stock market. He says he is "virtually sure" it's not going to be a long wait for a good return on stocks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professor Siegel, your chain of logic is stupefying.

Where in all this prognostication do you ever consider the realities of our Earth’s health?

You speak of the thirties, yet never mention the vast untapped resources that abounded back then.

Professor, haven’t the past two centuries of economic prosperity, nay exploding wealth been predicated upon the consumption of our Earth’s resources... that is its biosphere along with its mineral wealth?

And hasn’t this consumption taken place with rampant abandon?
Coupled with absolute contempt for sustainable strategies?

Our crop lands and ocean fisheries are seriously damaged.
What about future water supply issues?

What about the next inevitable natural weather catastrophe(s) coming our way?

Prof. Jeremy why do all you economic big shots always ignore such real world factors?

Any wonder why you’re always taken by surprise at the next “shoe dropping.”

What good are the professor’s & NPR’s myopic assurances when you all ignore predictable future consequences of current real world trends.

NPR NEWS needs less fluff &
more serious investigative reporting!
start with less music
and more real world science
during NPR’s “news” programs.


ps. in my NPR comments I go under myperspectives, which relates to a previous email address.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Got Something to Say... "Hello Policy Maker" reference

Recently, I came across two websites that definitely belong in the library of resources I’m beginning to build up.

Where as I only dream of getting people motivated,
Keya Lea Horiuchi is actually doing something.
She's building a platform & tools for
directly speaking to our leaders...
And To Each Other.

Got something serious to say to the man,
but no connections?


Check it out ~
if you want to participate !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
in Keya Lea's own words:

http://hellopolicymaker.org
Ever wished you had greater political access and reach?

Together, we can extend our political reach.

Hello Policy Maker.org helps you to quickly access basic political information as well as voice your political concerns. You’ll also be able to see other people's concerns. It's a place to submit and share political videos with, well, everyone really.

Hello Policy Maker.org also seeks to engage and stimulate representative democracy by creating a web - based structure that encourages Americans to be creative and ask difficult questions that need to be discussed but may be systemically absent from our media.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://consideringdemocracy.com

How does U.S. policy compare to other democratic nations?

A filmmaker traveled around the world asking people about their nations' policies and about how they view the United States. After returning, research was carried out to see if what people were saying was true. Interesting differences between the U.S. and all the other developed countries were found.

Shot in ten countries, Considering Democracy weaves together seemingly different topics into an interconnected tapestry. People from around the world act as a mirror for Americans to see a reflection of political power in the United States.

Monday, May 25, 2009

stolen from the New York Review of Books

I stumbled across the following list.
It seemed like a pretty good reference guide for, to-the-point, books regarding the Cheney/Bush Administration & Neocon thinking & recent history.
It was copied from The New York Review of Books, volume 53.

The titles are linked to reviews or descriptions of the books.
Authors names are linked to biographical information.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

thank you nybooks.

The New York Review of Books
Volume 53, Number 15 · October 5, 2006
Cheney: The Fatal Touch
By Joan Didion


BOOKS DRAWN ON FOR JOAN DIDION'S ARTICLE:


A Very Thin Line: The Iran-Contra Affairs
by Theodore Draper
Hill and Wang, 690 pp., $27.95

Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror
by Richard A. Clarke
Free Press, 304 pp., $27.00

Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors, and Secret Intelligence
by Admiral Stansfield Turner
Hyperion, 308 pp., $23.95

Disarming Iraq
by Hans Blix
Pantheon, 285 pp., $24.00

The Halliburton Agenda: The Politics of Oil and Money

by Dan Briody
Wiley, 290 pp., $16.95 (paper)

My Year in Iraq: The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope
by L. Paul Bremer III, with Malcolm McConnell
Simon and Schuster,417 pp., $27.00

Now It's My Turn: A Daughter's Chronicle of Political Life
by Mary Cheney
Threshold, 239 pp., $25.00

The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11
by Ron Suskind
Simon and Schuster, 367 pp., $27.00

Plan of Attack
by Bob Woodward
Simon and Schuster, 467 pp., $28.00

The Rise and Rise of Richard B. Cheney: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Most Powerful Vice President in American History
by John Nichols
New Press, 268 pp., $14.95 (paper)

Rise of the Vulcans: The History of Bush's War Cabinet
by James Mann
Penguin, 426 pp., $16.00 (paper)

Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, with Supplemental, Minority, and Additional Views
Government Printing Office, 690 pp. (1987)

31 Days: The Crisis That Gave Us the Government We Have Today

by Barry Werth
Nan A. Talese/Doubleday,398 pp., $26.00

Torture and Truth: America, Abu Ghraib, and the War on Terror
by Mark Danner
New York Review Books, 580 pp., $19.95 (paper)

Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush
by John W. Dean
Warner, 281 pp., $14.95 (paper)

Years of Renewal
by Henry Kissinger
Touchstone, 1,151 pp., $24.00 (paper)

Then, Joan Didion's article begins:

It was in some ways predictable that the central player in the system of willed errors and reversals that is the Bush administration would turn out to be its vice-president, Richard B. Cheney....

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Regarding Dick Cheney's 5-21-9 American Enterprise Institute speech

Submitted to the Four Corners Free Press


Thanks to the wonder of the internet, one can listen to Dick Cheney’s famous May 21st speech at the American Enterprise Institute on YouTube, and I have, a few times over. Being on the internet I was also able to fact check some of Mr. Cheney’s telling along with my own memory of events.

What I found was that Cheney defended his entire case like a great novelist building and weaving his story and its substance to fit his chosen solution to his plot’s dilemma. Though that works great for writers of fiction who are welcome to use artistic license to move their story along, it’s not how to run a government, build a sustainable future, or trumpet a policy.


Mr. Cheney radiates incredible conviction and even stronger ego, but, he also showed himself incapable of admitting to any short coming or mistakes. That begs the question: what good is his judgement if he is incapable of honest introspection?

Reflecting this is a remarkable anecdote regarding the ex-Vice President. Cheney was describing the Bush Administration’s doctrine on dealing with terrorism. He is quoted saying, “If there’s a 1% chance that Pakistani scientists are helping al-Qaeda build or develop a nuclear weapon, we have to treat it as a certainty in terms of our response. It’s not about our analysis ... It’s about our response.” Cheney’s speech showed his unwavering commitment to that mindset. It makes me wonder how can this man remain so oblivious to the cost of their mistakes? (Ron Suskind’s book “The One Percent Doctrine,” documents how this world view effected Bush Administration actions.)

Trouble is, the world’s full of potential disasters and conceivable threats lurk in every direction. If one is going to put all their energy into every imaginable potential threat that comes to mind they’ll drive themselves insane... while missing actual incoming threats. There needs to be some intelligent evaluation, prioritizing and careful planning. Otherwise you’re just falling prey to one’s own paranoia and unrestrained pipe dreaming.

For instance Cheney claims,“ You can look at the facts and conclude that (our) comprehensive strategy has worked, and therefore needs to be continued.” What has worked? Where is America any better off? Where are things being constructively resolved? If there’s any comprehensive strategy to be teased from events, its a strategy of pursuing war for war’s sake. Only then do administration neocon actions fall into place and make sense. Their own New American Century documents support such an interpretation. Projecting power and exercising military options is an end in itself for ex-Vice President Cheney. Is that what America needs? Didn’t Washington and Eisenhower expressly warn against such folly?

Cheney claims success because al-Qaeda hasn’t struck our homeland since 9/11. That conceit is filled with too many flimsy assumptions. Did al-Qaeda actually try again? Did they have to? After all American’s were ,... are, doing a pretty good job of tearing itself down - from damaging our own economy, to vandalizing our world position, to damaging our own military, to how Americans are being encouraged to distrust and even despise one another.

When we get to the Abu Ghraib torture scandal Cheney is quick to throw military personnel off the cliff. Where’s the man’s honor or sense of loyalty as he lectures us? Furthermore, his words are directly contradicted by reams of official documentation and the tenor of his own words back then. Cheney championed going to extremes but now condemns the soldiers who were carrying out those orders. It’s Cheney-speak at its ugliest.

Cheney says, “(Obama) can project values, and that’s fine, but we need to project strength and that has to rule in certain situations.” True enough, but only when it makes sense! What’s the sense behind projecting strength in the form of vengeance-lust inspiring shock and awe, while leaving the heart of the real perpetrators to enjoy the successes of their labors?

So far as on the ground happenings - we have invaded & demolished a nation that was not a direct strategic threat to our nation. While Cheney/Bush’s half hearted attempts to track the true perpetrators of 9/11 have only served to train and harden al Qaida and bring in a huge fresh young generation fired-up by the atrocities they experienced at the hands of Cheney’s “projection of strength.” Yet, Cheney still doesn’t recognize that might & military strength must be handled with wisdom - and acts of wisdom require an ability to admit to mistakes and to learn from them.

I do agree with Cheney that documents relating to intercepted plots should be released. (But, here again, he lies in that it is the CIA not Obama who’s holding back those documents.) Cheney believers constantly refer to their facts, facts that upon closer examination too often turn out to be smoke, mirrors and ideologically motivated deceptions - therefore, it would be valuable to see those documents. Then Americans can decide for themselves how well they can believe Cheney’s boast of thousands, even hundred’s of thousands of lives saved.

Another dishonest aspect of Cheney claiming facts support him is that he steadfastly ignores the huge body of documented contrary facts as reported on sites like www.bushlies.net or www.bushwatch.com and others.

Solutions won’t be found in ratcheting up the paranoia and encouraging yet more faith-based hostility. Seems to me, the tenor of the myopic absolutism Cheney espoused in his recent fear mongering tour displays an approach that in the cold glare of reality once again acts more as al-Qaeda’s booster than America’s protector.

One of the tragic hallmarks of faith-based reasoning - is that only the facts fitting ones ideology are acknowledged, and a blind eye to all else is considered a virtue. Sadly, such thinking will only further damage our children’s future.

Shouldn’t we, as a nation, do better?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Creeping Socialism, oh my!

Printed in the Durango Telegraph May 21st, 2009.
It was inspired by another irrational right wing letter to the editor.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
right wing fear mongering - socialism, etc.

Dear Editor,
The sky is falling, the sky is falling! It’s creeping socialism, oh my!

It’s incredible hearing the right wing rant against “socialism.” If we can for a moment keep the lies of Hitler, Leninist Communism and all that misleading stuff out of it, let’s consider socialism.


Do you go to church and consider yourself a Christian? Well, what about that church community you’re proud of? Let’s see, theoretically parishioners possess a special sense of community, caring about one another, even lending a hand to help others. Don’t look now - but, that’s “socialism.” In fact, the person Christian’s put upon God’s pedestal, namely Jesus, is arguably the greatest socialist that ever lived.

Do you believe in family values? You know, real family values like the one’s exemplified by Mexican families far better than the white middle/upper class’s fractured echo of what once was? You know, where everyone cares about their brothers/sisters along with cousins and aunts/uncles including the old & sick folks. Don’t look now - but, that’s socialism.

>>> Admittedly, governments have done horrible things using “Socialism” as a propaganda shield, but that does not make a lie out of the fact that we are social creatures! We depend upon one another and the better we figure out how to cooperate ~ while recognizing differences ~ the better off everyone... everything would be.

While the right wing waves “FreeMarket” at us - what does Reaganomics actually have to show for itself? That is, beyond a few extremely powerful, wealthy folks who believe the world is their stage. Under Reaganomics the gap between rich and poor has grown to obscene levels. Even our middle class is discovering that they were only being conned by that great “Greed is Good” mantra.

Our world has been saturated with weaponry and hatred to the point that we have reverted to a planet of countless, endless wars... of course, with their accompanying profits for the masters of industry & finance.

Our planet’s “environment” which right wingers continue to hold in the utmost loud mouthed contempt ~ even though it is undeniably Earth’s life support system ~ is a tattered, and aged before her day, remnant of what the great explorers discovered barely two centuries ago.

Yet, we refuse to look at what that degradated biosphere means for our children's future, instead pretending the economy runs purely on buying, trading and financial voodoo.

All the while, the mounting, foreseeable challenges our children will be facing continue to be ignored in favor of wasting our precious time with imbecilic ideological battles, rather than rationally looking at this new world we are creating out of our own collective avarice.

Tragically, the only solution right wingers seem to offer is: buy more guns and ammo.

Like the song asked so long ago: When will they ever learn?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Interview with Professor Andrew Bacevich (author of "The Limits of Power")

In today's sea of media fed mucho blah blah
sober, truly insightful, accomplished voices are hard to come by.

Andrew Bacevich is such a voice.

I came across the following interview recently and feel it belongs among my collection of educational links.

So far, I've only read his Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism (2008) ~~ the man makes more sense than any politician I've heard lately. This interview is a good introduction to that book.

Other books by Bacevich:
American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of US Diplomacy (2002),
The New American Militarism: How Americans are Seduced by War (2005)


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The Bill Moyers Journal
interview with Andrew J. Bacevich
August 15, 2008

"Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life."

part one
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08152008/watch.html


part two
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08152008/watch2.html

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Bacevich is the author of "The Limits of Power"
For a text of the full introduction ~ click

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Awesome Website Links

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Awesome Website
~~~ with links ~~~

... but first a digression ...

Faith-based thinking demands that we accept some groups
subjective interpretation of reality, creation, humanity and god.
Faith-based thinking demands that we focus upon their one-percent
to the exclusion of the rest of the story.

For all the truth faith-based systems may possess,
they can never contain all the truth.

No mortal can "know" god, or our universe, with certainty!

But, we can learn and understand aspects of it ~ if we want.

Every member of humanity ought to learn about our Earth and its life sustaining biosphere. There are many excellent websites put together by honest sincere and educated people, backed up by the research of untold others and tens of thousands of valid instruments along with their publicly available data.

Here is an awesome example of what is available for those who seek.


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The following is basically a cut and paste from NOAA’s office of oceanic and atmospheric research / education web site, along with their links.

http://www.oar.noaa.gov/education/


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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Education resources
General Information

* Science with NOAA Research online resources --provides research and investigation experiences for middle school science students and teachers.
* NOAA 200th Anniversary Web Site -- provides an in-depth history of NOAA's first 200 years of research on tornadoes and hurricanes, climate and climate change, and coastal ecosystems
* NOAA Education Resources -- provides access to educational activities, publications, and booklets
* NOAA's Educational Opportunities for Students -- opportunities for students pursuing educational interests or considering careers in NOAA areas of expertise.
* NOAA Photo Library -- collection contains albums and catalogs with over 20,000 images.
* NOAA Research Spotlight and Spotlight Archives -- contain short feature articles on diverse scientific projects and collaborations within the organization
* WINDandSEA -- The Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Internet Locator provides links to science, policy and educational sites, includeing a Teachers and Students Corner
* Science on the Web -- Web Activities Using Scientific Data
* GLOBE Program -- Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment

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Climate Information

* Questions and Answers About Antarctica -- This Q and A was developed in response to an email from a teacher at a school for children with learning disabilities who were studying Antarctica.
* El Niño Theme Page -- provides access to realtime data and discussions about El Niño, including FAQs (PMEL)
* Arctic Theme Page -- provides access to Arctic data and information for scientists, students, teachers and the general public.
* Global climate change -- provides educational graphics on global climate change and the greenhouse effect (ESRL)
* NOAA Bering Sea Climate and Ecosystem website -- looks at future evolution of the Bering Sea climate/ecosystem
* "Climate Change: What We Know and What We Don't Know" -- Presentation on climate change research (AL)
* Causes of climate change and effects of carbon dioxide on the environment -- information from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program at the U.S. Department of Energy
* The Climate Change Collection -- a suite of science education web-based resources covering natural climate dynamics as well as human impacts on the climate system.

Physical processes contribute to climate change

Climate researchers agree there is much that we know but many things we don't know about the causes of climate change.

Ocean and Great Lakes Information

* Teacher at Sea Program -- teacher participation in research projects on board ship with interactive learning experiences for their classrooms; Teacher at Sea videos (CPO)
* An educator's Guide to International Year of the Ocean pdf -- provides ways to involve students in the study of the ocean (NOAA)
* Special Sites for Kids -- reference list of links for K-12 (PMEL)
* Jason Project -- a year-long scientific expedition with supplemental science and geography curriculum
* Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean theme page (PMEL)
* NOAA Ship Ka'imimoana at sea (PMEL)
* NEMO, the New Milennium Observatory -- studies the dynamic interactions between submarine volcanic activity and seafloor hotsprings (PMEL)
* Aquarius -- an underwater ocean laboratory used to study and explore our coastal ocean through saturation diving (NURP)
* "Biscayne Bubbles" -- provides educational information about biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of the fragile coastal ecosystem near Key Biscayne (AOML)
* About Our Great Lakes -- information for students, parents, and teachers interested in learning more about our Great Lakes (GLERL).
* Aquaculture Information Center -- K-12 selected educational resources from DOC/NOAA
* National Data Buoy Center -- Science Education Pages
* Interactive Climate Analysis and Data Plotting

Weather and Air Quality Information

* Weather -- general educational information from NOAA
* VORTEX: Unraveling the Secrets -- tornado intercept project timeline and storybook (NSSL)
* Weather Education -- general information for kids, parents and teachers and coloring books for young children (NSSL)
* Teacher Resources for Weather and Climate -- instructional resources (NSSL)
* Weather Education -- from the National Weather Service
* Jet Stream -- an online weather school from the NWS
* Classroom Activities -- posters for elementary, middle and high school students (ESRL)
* Red Sky in the Morning -- the truth behind the folk wisdom (ARL)
* Hurricane Education -- multimedia (CPO)

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"DYNAMIC SCIENCE"
an 18 minute overview of NOAA Research
see the text of Dynamic Science

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Part 1: Introduction (2:16)
Part 2: Weather and Forecasting (4:23)
Part 3: Climate (4:16)
Part 4: Air Quality (1:02)
Part 5: Oceans and Coasts (6:14)

Great reference for USA's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) information

Another very impressive knowledge/resource website available to anyone who wants to better comprehend our Earth, its intricacy, and society's future challenges regarding our biosphere is the US Department of Interior’s ~ Mineral & Management Service website.



One section of this multifaceted site focuses on four regional public meetings this April.
OCS Hearings and Report
hosted by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in order to discuss the future of offshore energy development on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) with the public. The satellite images/maps illustrating various natural resource distribution alone make it worth looking at.
Quoting from the introduction:
"The purpose of these meetings is to have an open, honest conversation with the American people to solicit the best information possible about an offshore energy plan,"

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

a poetic parable regarding USA's attitude

In the spirit of NPR’s “Can Poetry save the Earth” here is a poetic parable.

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It’s about an old alpha dog named Usap.
The one who scored a juicy bone.

So, Usap was proudly crossing the bridge,
when he noticed another dog gripping a beautiful meaty juicy bone.

Usap’s visceral reaction was:
"wait a minute!" Shouldn’t I have that bone?
I am the alpha here, it’s only proper.

So, Usap got his hackles up and snarled,
only to be met with viscous glares and threatening growls
coming from Other, the other dog.

This went on for a spell,
all the while
self-righteous anger
at the lack of respect being afforded Usap
was heating up like a kettle over a high flame.

With every succeeding growl Usap knew
that he would have to take action
~ if only for the sake of making the world right again.

Usap timed his action carefully,
then, he released a stupendous bark
& open mouthed thrust against Other.

Only to be shocked at watching his own juicy trophy bone
disappear into the depths of the flowing river of time.

Poor Usap, if only he had considered the facts
of the real world around him,
there could have been a different outcome.

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The Importance of Safe Source Waters vs. VWC

Here is another essay/letter to the editor regarding the short sighted foolishness of wanting to tear up Albert Park,
on the lee side of Wolf Creek Pass (the Great Divide) Colorado.
for a speculative luxury vacation village in these serious times.

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Dear Durango Herald Editor,
(4-9-9)Thursday’s article by AP’s S.M.Holmes: “Wetlands face threats, but have backers” is worth cutting out and rereading. It quotes an aquatic habitat specialist from New Mexico, Jill Wick: “...Wetlands also recharge groundwater and act as nature’s filter, removing such pollutants as sediment, pesticides heavy metals, even disease-causing bacteria....”

Wick goes on: “A healthy and functioning watershed will increase water quality, reduce the threat of flooding, increase the amount of available water, provide fish and wildlife habitat... increase the quality of living...”

For everyone that appreciates our biosphere these are self evident truths. Unfortunately, for a whole bunch of others, especially our politically right wing friends, they still don’t see it. They cling to the Reaganomics mindset. This in the face of overwhelming evidence of its profoundly destructive effect upon this shrinking planet, and its life supporting biosphere.

For instance, just on the other side of Wolf Creek Pass we have an epic drama of a steadfastly Reaganomics corporate entity clashing with today’s real world need for secure, clean, and abundant water.

The dream of a luxury vacation Village (with all its infrastructure) destroying the pristine Alberta Park is alive and well. Even though Alberta Park is an integral part of the Rio Grande River’s “source-waters” and LMJC’s ‘Plan A’ being soundly killed and buried last year. The Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture have brushed themselves off and are promising a new proposal in short order. I don’t have space for details. For more info visit friendsofwolfcreek.org/ or http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com.

Seems to me today’s challenge is how to transition from a resource gobbling society to a sustainability focused community. Nothing will be easy about it, but reality won’t be leaving us and our kids any other choice. Chasing dreams of mega consumption belongs on the trash heap of history. Pipedreams like the one pushing the “Village at Wolf Creek” need to be countered with a scientific and rational appreciation for why we need to just leave it alone. Can you help?

Sunday, March 22, 2009

The financial soundness of the Village at Wolf Creek dream

The following was printed in the
April 2009 Four Corners Free Press
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Once again we’re hearing officials proclaim: “The fundamentals of our economy are sound.” Sound ? Our economic fundamentals are based on ever increasing profit & consumption, this on our shrinking planet. What is fundamentally sound about that?

While all the attention seems to be on the finances and banking ~ we are overlooking our biosphere. You know, that web of earth, water, air & life that is our global life support system? Society has not only been engaged in a grand global climate experiment ~ but we also depleted & polluted planet earth’s resource base at an astounding speed. Our global biosphere is ill and undergoing an epic transition like nothing before in human history. One that includes, but goes way beyond, climate change.


Today’s challenge is how to transition from a resource gobbling society to a sustainability focused community. Nothing will be easy about it, but reality doesn't leave us and our kids any other choice.

We have an excellent local example of this dilemma between the tunnel visioned corporate dreams of yesteryear and our new world situation over on the other side of Wolf Creek Pass.

The saga began in the glory years of the Reagan Administration. In 86, a mega wheeler dealer offered the Rio Grande National Forest the deal of a lifetime: a whole bunch of high desert sagebrush land for around 360 acres of nearly pristine high mountain wetlands in the middle of the RGNF.

Such a Land Swap Proposal goes through National Forest Service channels with a decision being made at the regional level. That’s because they have the greatest expertise regarding the actual parcels of land and impacts of potential sales. Not surprisingly the RGNF rejected the swap ~ because it would have been a horrible trade for RGNF and America’s land trust.

However, given Reagan Administration connections, all was not lost for the corporate dream. Forest Service bureaucrats in Washington shocked many by overturning the rregional decision and OK’ing the land swap of the jewel called Alberta Park in the middle of a massive protected watershed, for sage land. The bureaucrats were gracious enough to shave it down to a little under 300 acres. For a more detailed description see the February 5, 2006 Denver Post story by, Mike Soraghan entitled: “Wolf Creek Development Tangled with Political Ties”

After acquiring the land, Mr. Red McCombs and his joint venture proposed a “Village” of 10,000 people at 10,000 feet elevation, in the middle of this unblemished Rio Grande River Watershed. To make a long story short, after many years of struggle, that development plan was shot down and blessedly buried this past year. (for the full story visit http://www.friendsofwolfcreek.org/)

Yet here we are two decades after the VWC brainstorm and the pipe dream continues to smolder. Seemingly oblivious to what’s going on at ground level Red’s joint venture has hired a new developer. Recently, they refurbished their obsolete website promising a new Village proposal was on the way.

Everyone agrees this land is a fantastic, nearly pristine watershed. It sustains a vast range of life forms, from the rare "fens" environment which comprises much of the inholding and functions as a magnificent water purification & storage resource, to wildlife of all sorts, including the federally threatened lynx.

Not to be overlooked is our changing climate. Experts of many persuasions say we should prepare for a drier Four Corners. So, what is “sound” about wanting to replace a productive watershed with a speculative, water guzzling luxury resort, in a time when our mountains are saturated with unsold luxury vacation dwellings? We don’t need more empty houses. We need clean water. It’s even more important than oil.

The revamped Village at Wolf Creek website claims: “Their new team specializes in exclusive, environmentally sensitive developments and works in sustaining the environment and nature as an integral part of their philosophy.” Glossy words, but what do they mean? How much environmental awareness and expertise do these Texas lowlanders have? Are they aware of what actually goes on up at Alberta Park? What do they have to say about the integral biology of that “undeveloped parcel”? Do they appreciate that there’s more there than a site plan, pretty drawings and dreams of profit?

I submit that Alberta Park and its surrounding watershed, on the lee side of Wolf Creek Pass, should be treated as a National Water Resource Security Item. One that deserves the utmost protection.

A great president once said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!” Mr. Red McCombs, given the real problems facing our towns, agriculture and water supplies why not allow Alberta Park to become the Red McCombs Watershed Preserve, dedicated to all down stream kids yet to be born?

If you think it sounds like a good idea, please share those thoughts with the Austin, Texas developer himself: Mr. Clint Jones ~ 512-402-1400 cjones@haljonesdev.com ~ Even better there’s the Mineral County Commissioners: William Philbern, Jr., and Karl Kolisch. These guys are going to be the decision makers. They can be reached at: 719-658-2331 or by email via: lizsherrie@yahoo.com .

I realize the permitting process is county business. However, considering the far reaching effects of any destruction, (er development), to that watershed ~ it is appropriate for citizens throughout the region to share their concerns regarding Mr. McCombs’ Texas based joint venture. Please help the Mineral County Commissioners realize what an important resource Alberta Park is. Just as it stands ~ without any destructive development to muck up its intricate life sustaining workings.