Wilsons Sandbox

Warning: This message has environmental content! I know this is not the forum for environmental discussion, but in light of the devastating fires in Los Alamos, NM and the fact that my family is hosting a displaced Los Alamos family, I feel compelled to express my thoughts on this disaster. It has become clear to me that there are two groups responsible for this huge fire, which, by current estimates will not be contained for about 2 weeks. First, the Federal Government for its mismanagement of the forests by having a fire suppression policy which has caused an over abundance of fuel in all of our forests and authorizing a prescribed burn in the worse possible conditions. It has become clear to me, however, that the biggest culprits of this disaster are the environmental groups, who have succeeded in stopping logging, fuel wood gathering, trail and road building. In the area that burned in New Mexico, Forest Guardians basically stopped all use of the forest through legal maneuvers and law suits. Now, no one can use it because it's gone. So, through the great misfortune of about 20,000 people and untold loss of property, we may now see the result mismanagement by the government and the selfish motives of environmental groups (which in my opinion is the last bastion of communism). Maybe now we will begin to manage our forests and other lands in a more responsible manner. Gino