Klamath Basin Water
Crisis
Upholding Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.
Comments, questions and concerns by Pat Ratliff, Malin, Oregon
KBC,
I'm writing in response to invitation to comment
on the 12 point "plan".
My initial response is WHAT PLAN?
I read the list of proposals. I could even agree
with many of them, but that's not a plan.
I feel slightly offended that anyone would think
me stupid enough to read them, then call my
representatives and tell them I support this
"plan".
Example:
1.Restoration of upper basin rivers/streams.
Duh! This is not a plan. It a goal or
objective. A plan would list ways one would
achieve this goal, costs, time to implement, etc.
It does not even define what *restoration* would
entail. Is there a legal definition of
restoration, or does it just mean being on the
government dole forever?
I would hope that before anyone lends support to
this "plan", they have the common sense to find
out exactly what these objectives are and how
these objectives will be met, if ever.
My second question was, why would someone give out
this list, thinking no one would question it.
I'd also like to comment on the *secret meetings*
article from the H&N on your website. I have no
objections to groups of people getting together
for meetings, and agree that if they were open to
the entire public, the groups would be so large
nothing would be accomplished. I also feel the
group representing the KWUA ( who represent me) is
a group of good, honest people, who have put in
many hours representing me and others in the
basin. I'm glad they're there. I DO question the
secrecy of the meetings AFTER they are over
though. Representation, ( to me), means attending
the meetings, then reporting back to the people
who would be affected, taking comments, then
possibly using those comments and criticisms to
make the next meeting more productive.
I know that legally, these "secret" meetings are
legal, even with a high ranking govenment official
present( Bettenberg). Morally, I would hope that
someone will let us ( the little people) of the
basin know what's going on before it comes down to
"one way or no way".
Another question would be to those attending those
meetings. Is there a confidentiality agreement by
those attending? If not, why the secrecy? If
there is.... why in the hell would you ever agree
to attend? People thinking they know what is good
for the basin without consulting those in the
basin is much of what got us into this mess. It
surely won't get us out of it now.
My last thought is to those Senators and
Congressmen and Government officials who have been
sent this paper. Please remember that this paper
was sent by 12 people out of the thousands who
farm and ranch in the Klamath Basin. Please give
it the consideration it deserves. Maybe a high
government official, asking details of the plan
and not bound by confidentiality, could get some
answers for the rest of us down here.
We're anxiously waiting.
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