[Vision2020] Canned collaborative

[Moscow Cares]

Courtesy of today's (April 15, 2014) Lewiston Tribune with thanks to Ashley Lipscomb.

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Canned collaborative
After penning a personalized letter to Sen. Jim Risch concerning opposition to the Upper Lochsa land exchange, here are my favorite excerpts from his canned letter: ...
"In September, Sen. (Mike) Crapo, Congressman (Raul) Labrador and I requested the (U.S. Forest Service) and (Western Pacific Timber) pause the administrative process to conduct the land exchange so as to allow for the creation of a legislative proposal that will require public hearings and that balances the interests of all stakeholders involved. Those stakeholders are: the people of Idaho, all forest users, Idaho County, the Nez Perce Tribe, USFS and Western Pacific Timber.
"The stakeholders are currently working together to determine if they can find common solutions to move forward with this land exchange. Once they craft a legislative proposal, there will be public hearings to determine if it is in the best interest of all Idahoans."
The Forest Service, for five years, has already "heard" the public's sentiments through several comment periods, eliminating the need for a legislative fix.
Collaboratives happen when powerful special interests, like WPT, are out of sync with the majority of public opinion and aren't getting their way. If you see the words "collaboration," "stakeholders" or "common solutions," question whether you're actually involved in the process at all, regardless of what senators are conveying to you through canned responses.
The public overwhelmingly involved themselves. The Forest Service should purchase the proposed parcels through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
I know a canned collaborative when I see one.
Ashley Lipscomb, Moscow
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Seeya at the polls, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still.
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
  
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