TamiJ
Sitting here, looking at the pines through my window on this picture-perfect, sunny Oregon day, I wonder what I can possibly write that will make a difference? I was born in this beautiful state, and outwardly it looks much the same now as it did all those years ago: breath-taking coastline vistas, rugged mountain ranges, valleys plentiful with fields of grass seed and produce, and high desert country to satisfy the most ardent outdoorsman.
And yet, beneath nature’s facade is a state rife with systemic economic failure. The mean state unemployment rate (8.4%) is above the national average (8.2%). However, some areas, such as my home town of Bend (Deschutes county) are currently at a dismal 10.3% unemployment despite boasting some of the nation’s finest fishing, skiing, boating, hunting, golf and other recreational activities. Oregon also carries a debt of load of over $34.6 bil, in spite of an endless store of possible revenue sources.How is it that a state so plentiful in natural resources carries such an overwhelming debt burden? Consider that 11 million acres of Oregon timberland (40% of all forests) is now sequestered and sheltered from harvest by the feds! So the elites in DC, many of whom have never visited our fair state, nor met a logger, are presumptively declaring much of Oregon a national park of sorts. Thus, our renewable resources are now an aging, over-managed tinder-box listed as a trophy for some ecologically-minded, endangered species-touting, beltway do-gooder.Further, Oregon’s state business taxes and regulatory fees have made this the 42nd best state for business. That’s 42nd out of 50! (no Obama, not 57) A state of 98,380 square miles (9th largest state), and population of only 3.87 million is lagging behind 41 other states! We have rich soil, a wonderful growing season, pure water and air, ports, rivers, forests and hard-working Oregonians, and yet are tethered to restrictive policies and regulations. At this point in Oregon’s great history the only creatures flourishing may be the poor Northern Spotted Owl and Mountain Pine Beetle!For some 35-40 years my state has been the special project of non-sensical, eco-fanatics who have put everything but people first! Whole logging towns have become skeletons of the thriving communities they once were. Driving over the scenic North Santiam Pass from Bend to Salem, once vibrant townships have given way to boarded up businesses, and awe-inspiring forests resemble spotty, post-chemo hair growth following fires of beetle-ravaged pines.I realize this is just one state–my state. But Oregon is surely a reasonable representation of the eventual result of unbridled, unjustified and unprecedented progressive ruling and legislation. Those gate-keepers–the education and media elite–have succeeded in grooming a generation that sincerely believe humans are the avowed enemy of the planet. In their upside-down world-view, whales and seals are more important than babies and old-growth timber is infinitely more precious than old loggers.We are now reaping what these entrenched environmentalists have sown: a severe economic recession as well as mis-handled and over-managed natural resources! I would bet cash money that the average logger has a far greater knowledge and respect for the outdoors and our forests than the typical beltway, save-the-planet, bureaucrat or activist. The farmers I know here love the land and understand being a good neighbor and a good caretaker of said land, as well as making a profit from their crops.
For too many years we, and by we I mean hard working, America-loving people, have been unengaged and allowed the left to take-over our schools, our government and our institutions. The progressives have improved nothing except their eco and ideologue scorecards. Well it’s time. It’s time for all of us supposed “fly-over” citizens to wake up and make our voices heard. It’s time we engaged and fought for what we know to be right and good and true. It’s time to educate those beltway legislators and re-calibrate their priorities: people come first!
Red Pill Report is excited to welcome Tamara Jackson to our team of contributors. I’ve been reading Tamara’s tweets on Twitter for a while now, and I can tell you that she brings with her a clear conservative perspective from the liberal state of Oregon. We look forward to hearing much more from her!
Don’t forget to follow Tamara on Twitter:. @tamij
Posted by Red Pill Report | July 29, 2012, 8:00 pmI’m so pleased to be here, cheerfully battling the left with all you good patriots!
Posted by TamiJ | July 29, 2012, 8:31 pmAs a fellow Oregonian, this article hit home, and disgusted me. We had our county libraries closed down for months a few years ago when the environmental agenda took precedence over the people agenda. All that forested land going unused, actually sitting around waiting to become infernos when fire season hits. The state of Oregon is grossly mismanaged. I am exhausted with our interests being ignored because leaders at the national level have a “loftier” idea of what is good for us.
Posted by alison | July 29, 2012, 9:19 pmI hear you, Alison! This article is rather personal, and though I can’t go into all the details, my father is a research soils scientist with some great studies in growth and harvesting, and with respect to the Ponderosa Pines, in particular. I grew up visiting stands of Forest Service lands. One of dad’s good friends and colleagues, was one of the earlier entomologists who tried, with no success, to advocate for pesticide spraying (with a low concentration pesticide) decades ago. This might have saved thousands of acres of timber in the western states.
Further, in the 1920′s – 1940′s the forests experienced natural fires which eradicated the slash build-up on the forest floor and purged the stands of many pest problems. All of the old growth timber have fire scars at the base. With over and mis-management, and sequestration of more and more acreage for Federal land, the forests have become dangerous as well as unprofitable! And all in the for “ecological goals”. Such nonsense!
Posted by TamiJ | July 29, 2012, 9:38 pmAmen and amen! I have a brother in Oregon and he and his family are constantly frustrated and disheartened by the very things you just mentioned. Thank you for taking a stand against the ridiculous things that have been done for far too long. We are with you and hope your voice will be heard by the masses. We look forward to more from you on Red Pill Report. We love this blog!
Posted by James | July 29, 2012, 10:50 pmThank-you James! Love to hear the comments and feedback, especially from those who have some inside baseball on this beautiful state that’s being run into the ground!!
Posted by TamiJ | July 30, 2012, 1:38 amWe love Oregon and used to live there. We lived in the beautiful mountains near Roseburg. My husband drove a log truck and was a school teacher. But, sadly we left because of the liberal dominance and we moved our family to a conservative state. We appreciate your blog and look forward to reading more of your thoughts on Red Pill.
Posted by LDH/LMH | July 30, 2012, 5:15 amI surely understand your frustration with the leadership and direction of this state! I was born in Salem, raised (mostly) in Bend, and spent summers on the relatives’ grass seed farm in the hills above Silverton. At one time the Democratics in this state were just another party–never the right one in my mind, but never crazy. Now they call themselves “progressives”, and I’ve never seen a more wildly incorrect definition for a worldview!
Posted by TamiJ | July 30, 2012, 8:55 amThanks to TamiJ and to RedPillReport. I am a current Oregonian in Medford. I work fairly closely with the fire community and hear their grumblings. The bounty of timber in this state has gone from blessing the state with revenue to becoming a burden on the state because of the cost to fight these fires. A well managed forest brings in revenue AND creates a healthier forest. None of this has to do with trees or the environment. The environment is a tool being used by the left to control people. Indoctrinate in school and then lead the blind masses to their doom. That is the plan of the left.
Posted by Cucciolo | July 30, 2012, 1:17 pmIf only those who regulate could think so logically. Great blog, Red Pill and great posting TamiJ.
Posted by Ben | July 30, 2012, 4:25 pm