How about returning the land to the indigenous peoples we stole it from?

We never did gain a legal title to any of it. The government tried to, by means of treaties, but then it turned around and broke every treaty it ever signed.

This land was never our land. There isn’t even some ancient book saying that it was given to us by some deity. We didn’t inhabit it, we invaded it.

We have not “improved” upon it, we have devastated it, destroying 97% of old growth forests, driving many species to extinction, polluting the water, paving the land, and contaminating the air with carcinogens and radioactive wastes. We have not “developed” it, we have plundered it. Instead of setting aside some land in hopes of saving it from ourselves, why don’t we just give it back to the people who respected it and cared for it?

This land is not your land, this land is not my land, this land is and will always be, Turtle Island.

By rollzone, March 27 at 1:03 am #

hello. a bill that has a bundle of 170 measures, including packing heat for personal protection in these wildernesses; and i am supposed to take a side without the whole story?

~*~*

Humm, I don’t think anyone has asked that you ‘take a side’ here rollzone. Based on my interpretation of this, it’s an announcement of legislative action already done, so it doesn’t require that you ‘take a side’. It just requires President Obama’s signature. I agree with Outraged, he’ll probably sign it.

Sorry, I forgot to add this:

http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/

RE: rollzone

comment: trees than can be regrown, land that can be restored.

As a lifetime environmentalist I submit to you that these things—regrown & restored—are not as easy as you make them sound. I can provide thousands of examples to the contrary, and only a few in support.

While jobs are important, our lands and what we leave behind are more so.

Re: rollzone

Your comment: “i have been to all of these places,

Have you SERIOUSLY been to “all these places”...?  Please, give us the account.  You appear worthy of the “written word” so to speak…. what did you find, what did you feel, what did you see…. how has your experience of these wild places changed your perspective….?  I certainly haven’t been to ALL these places, as it would be a difficult venture given my resources, but if YOU have…. relate to us your experiences.  I, for one, would definitely be interested.

I swear, it’s been like Christmas every day since January 20th, 2009. Not a day goes by when this new Admin doesn’t do something that we’ve been pleading for,  the past 8 years. Now this. Thank GOD!!! The neocons have privatized everything except the ENTIRE Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and I say entire, because they HAVE privatized parts of both. It was only a matter of time (had the destruction continued) before ALL of our jointly held property would be grabbed up by the repiglicans for whatever they could privatize and/or sell back to us, while destroying more and more of the environment at the same time. Thank you President Obama, for stopping that on-going rape and pillage by the repigs.

Then I ran across this just today, which is more of the same.

“Obama Administration Announces $3.2 Billion in Funding for Local Energy Efficiency Improvements

Block Grants to Support Jobs, Cut Energy Bills, and Increase Energy Independence

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Obama-Administration-Announces-32-Billion-in-Funding-for-Local-Energy-Efficiency-Improvements/

Then this was yet another treat. Remember the so-called ‘tax rebate’ of a year of two ago, when they decided to give people tax rebates, but only to those who had worked and paid taxes on their income. That left out the then unemployed, (even if they had worked 30 plus years during the years before) and it left out those on social security of any kind, (so all old and disabled people) and pretty much everybody else who obviously needed the money the most, even if it was only a few hundred dollars.
Well, for those of us who were left out, we can anticipate a small gesture of help beginning in May, when the Obama Administration has decided to pay $250.00 (a one time thing) to those people who are recipients of Social Security or SSI.

Vice President Biden Announces $250 Recovery Payments to Go to Social Security and SSI Beneficiaries in May
Payments will inject more than $13 Billion into Economy

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Vice-President-Biden-Announces-250-Dollar-Recovery-Payments-to-Go-to-Social-Security-and-SSI-Beneficiaries-in-May/

Yep, these guys do good work. Even better than I anticipated or could even hope for.

hello. a bill that has a bundle of 170 measures, including packing heat for personal protection in these wildernesses; and i am supposed to take a side without the whole story? i have been to all of these places, and American jobs may be more valuable than trees that will grow back, or land that can be restored. did not Mrs. Palin proclaim the road to nowhere was a mistake; or was that some other boondoggle? has anyone asked the people living in the private community if they want to be invaded with a road?

Yes, I see the dollars slipping out of the greedy hands of the opportunists of greed and destruction.  Promoting work and jobs should not have to be blind, much more retrospect is needed and growth green.

hmmm.

Clinton did something similar.

Reduce availability here, increase demand there, make fortune.

There is certianly another scam in play.

Hallelujah! Praise be to the gods of earth and stone, tree and water, bird and bug. This will help sooth the damage done by 8 years of Bush, Inc.

Extremely important legislation, I sense Obama will sign the bill.  Check out the links at this link for a graphic representation of this bill’s importance. 

http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/

My thanks to everyone who worked to get this legislation passed and to those in congress who voted for it.