No Place for Ugly Rhetoric in Public Land Use Debate

The Recreation HQ could not let this week end without making a comment on some of the crowd’s “verbal ugliness” directed at the environmental representative (and to some extent at the Forest Service official) at the September 19, 2011 House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Land’s hearing held in Sacramento.


Nobody supports vigorous and spirited debate on public land access issues then I. However, at the hearing some in the audience crossed the line between civil public discourse and inappropriate name calling and heckling.

Over the years, I have sometimes been the only conservative land-use representative at meetings largely dominated by far left-wing eco-zealots. But at those meeting (and to my surprise), I was not rudely hit with over-the-top insults and slurs.

HQ understands the anger in the OHV community about how thousands of miles of historic access routes have been closed over the years by eco-lawsuits and government overregulation. In fact, these closures make my blood boil too.

However, OHV’s cause is not advanced in the public arena when it resorts to ugly and hostile rhetoric.


# # #

Marines' Johnson Valley DEIS is Flawed - Comments Due May 26!

As many of you know, the Marines at 29 Palms have proposed to expand their base of operations into the popular Johnson Valley OHV Area. Back in 2008 and 2009, a number of OHV groups, local governments, and other stakeholders challenged the premise of the proposal and wrote comments in strong opposition to the expansion.

In the 2009 BRC comment letter, the “need” for three Marine Expeditionary Brigades to train simultaneously was challenged. Another question was raised about why the Marines are developing a proposal based on an outdated segregated training model instead of looking at a 21st Century integrated training model? Also, the Marines were asked about how this proposal would be funded considering the current fiscal crisis and ballooning national deficit?

2009 BRC Comment Letter on the Marines NOI
http://www.delalbright.com/Access/Johnson%20Valley%20BRC%20DEIS%20Comment%20Letter%20Jan%2029%2020090001.pdf

HQ Blog on the NOI with Various Letters and Comments
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/02/ohv-groups-say-closure-of-johnson.html

HQ’s initial impression after a quick review of the DEIS is that the agency has failed to answer the aforementioned questions. This proposal appears to have little to do with current and projected battlefield scenarios. Rather, this proposal appears to be politically motivated and has the same merit as a Navy Base Commander wanting to reactivate 3 battleships and then do a front-loaded expansion plan to support it. While that might have some emotional attraction, that plan would be just as irrelevant as the Marines claimed “need” to have three MEBs train together in what was once a popular recreation area.

Another process issue is that the scoping document did not daylight the DEIS’s post-scoping arbitrary decision criteria that was used to basically disqualify numerous public comments and ideas such as using other federal military facilities and reclassification or re-designation of other public lands.

HQ believes that the DEIS as presented is seriously, if not fatally, flawed. Those of you who commented should review your comments and point out to the Corps where you feel they missed the boat.

Again, HQ’s opposition should not be taken as a slight against our military. But rather as opposition to bad decision-making by federal officials. Please get your comments in by May 26, 2011.

For information on the DEIS, please see the BRC alert on this subject
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1324

Thanks for your interest in this subject.

Official Quiet Warrior Racing "Less dBA =s More Trails" T-Shirt Up for Auction

3 day auction on eBay for offiicial Quiet Warrior Racing "Less dBA = More Trails" T-Shirt.  You bid will help support the land-use work of The Quiet Warrior.  Thanks for bidding and Merry Christmas.  This size is XL.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Quiet-Warrior-Racing-Less-dBA-More-Trails-T-Shirt-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c18076fd5QQitemZ120662224853QQptZApparelQ5fMerchandise

Thanks,

Don

Support AMA D36 LAO's 2011 Calendar Fundraiser - Help Keep Trails Open

Donate 20 Bucks and Get this Cool Calendar

Riders sometimes ask what their local AMA District is doing to fight the closure agenda of anti-OHV groups. In addition, they ask how they can support those efforts.

To answer those questions the Recreation HQ wants to feature a “2011 Calendar” fundraising effort by AMA Dist. 36 to generate funds to partner with groups like BRC in various legal actions and to support local clubs fight unreasonable cost recovery charges that are literally making AMA sanctioned events in Northern California and elsewhere an “endangered species.”

The General has had the honor (either as the western representative for BRC or as The Quiet Warrior) to work with AMA Dist. 36 in many joint efforts to protect and promote responsible OHV recreation on public lands.

QWR so strongly believes in what AMA Dist. 36 is doing that it is supporting this fundraising effort. This project offers a 2011 Dist. 36 Calendar featuring on the cover the 2010 KTM 450 XC-W ISDE Replica (yes, I have already bought raffle tickets for this separate “Bike-based” D36 LAO raffle/fundraiser and I hope I win!) with cool bike and rider shots featured each month.

All funds raised will go directly to support the aggressive pro-OHV agenda of the AMA Dist. 36’s Legislative Action Office (LAO).

With Christmas just around the corner, how about donating $20 dollars to this fundraiser and get a dirt-bike based calendar for free?

To donate to this fundraiser and get a free calendar contact:

Kraig Traum (this guy is a tireless fundraiser and I salute him!)
D36 LAO Fundraiser
2470 Palm Ct.
Brentwood, CA 94513
Email: d36moose@att.net
Phone: 925.260.0315

Thanks for supporting this effort.

Dealernews Oct 2010 - Land Use Battle is Front and Center

The Recreation HQ commends Dealernews for addressing the issue of “land-use advocacy” in its October 2010 edition. There is an excellent overview of the fight for OHV access as the lead article with BRC’s executive director, Greg Mumm. That article also includes an interview with Cycle Gear’s CEO, Dave Bertram.

*

PHOTO: Cycle Gear's Dave Betram presents BRC with 10K as part of CG's Trail Fund Support

Program for BRC.

*

DealerNews Interview with Greg Mumm and Dave Bertram
http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/Dealer+Profiles+%28RFC%29/When-theres-nowhere-to-ride-theres-nothing-to-sell/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/689772

In that same issue, Dealernews does a short Q&A with The General regarding his take on the land use battle.

Q&A with The General (includes some wins and highlights import of local clubs, etc.)
http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/Building+Your+Business/The-Generals-take-on-off-road-recreation/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/689779

Link to all the Dealernews Access Articles
http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/issue/issueDetail.jsp?id=19491

Riders often ask why the industry and dealers are not more involved? HQ believes this issue of Dealernews may help answer some of those questions and to point out those dealers and industry leaders who support the effort. Good job Dealernews! The General salutes you.

Thanks for your support!

Fatigue, Freedom, and July 4

With the virtual blizzard of land-use issues hitting the OHV community on almost a daily basis, The Recreation HQ wants riders to take a few days off from the battle and enjoy what truly should be a joyous celebration of our country, troops, and freedom.

The General must be honest with you when he tells you that it is hard some days to get up and turn on the computer or open the mail to found out what new land-closure plan or proposal has landed on the doorstep. I hear that same concern being voiced by a lot of OHV advocates and access supporters.

Thomas Paine once said, “Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

There will be plenty of time starting next week to reengage the anti-access community and closure-oriented bureaucrats. For the next couple to days take time to reflect on the meaning of Independence Day, enjoy your family, and pay respect to current or retired members of the military.

From foreign shores to City Hall, The Recreation HQ salutes all of you who fight for freedom. God bless you and God bless America.

AZ Gov. Jan Brewer Stands Up Against Illegal Invasion

Last week, the Recreation HQ stated that public access is 180 degrees backwards when you have federal land agencies telling OHVers that travel restrictions or bans exist on roads and trails in the desert because they have ceded those lands to illegal drug and human traffickers. On the flip side, you have those same federal land agencies closing historic roads and trails to legal residents on forests like the Shasta Trinity NF, Tellico NF, etc.
*

PHOTO: The General On A Trail in AZ

*

June 21 Blog on Criminal Invasion
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/06/criminal-invasion-closes-public-lands.html

In recent years, there have not been many Governors who have stood up against land closures. However just a few days ago, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer posted a video on the internet near one of the travel restriction signs (shown in the June 21 blog) posted on federal lands in her state.

Video of Jan Brewer Standing Up Against the Illegal Invasion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzDlN7VLmXQ

The Recreation HQ sent Gov. Brewer a thank you today regarding her fight. Feel free to send your own message to her at:

Brewer Comment Link
http://azgovernor.gov/contact.asp

The General believes that when a politician takes a stand for us regular folks… we should support them.

Thanks in advance for your continued vigilance.

Book Review - Climategate - A 21st Century Eco Update

As The General prepares to write a book review of Brian Sussman’s must read book Climategate, he is reminded of the 1993 treatise of the environmental movement called
Trashing the Economy.

On page 3 of that book, the Institute for Policy Innovation wrote, “The rapid growth of government regulations may very well be the single most important obstacle to U.S competitiveness here and abroad.”

In light of government programs like the Travel Management Rule and landscape level closures such as the BLM’s interim “no-human use” prescription for the Clear Creek Management Area, the Recreation HQ would like to rephrase the aforementioned quote to state, “The rapid growth of unchecked government regulations may very well be the single most important obstacle to our personal freedoms both at home and with regards to public land access.”

I believe Climategate gives the reader a 21st century update on just how 1960-1980s era radical environmentalists and their supporters in Congress, the media, and the administration – as so aptly described in Trashing the Economy – are enacting their nightmarish eco-agenda that has very little if anything to do with “protecting the environment.”

Sussman does an excellent job of connecting the dots that exist between eco-icons and/or their schemes/concepts such as Gaylord Nelson, Fred Singer, Carl Pope, Carol Browner, Richard Nixon, Paul Ehrlich, Al Gore, Rachael Carson, Earth Day, EPA, Agenda 21, United Nations, Cap and Tax, An Inconvenient Truth, Global Warming, and the Clean Air Act.

As freedom loving Americans and riders, I would urge you to get Sussman’s book so you have a better understanding of what we are up against. It is no joke. The greens are serious about banning OHV use on public lands. You may say how do you know? My response is because that is what they have told me in person and I believe them. You should too!

For those of you who want a more comprehensive historical overview of the environmental movement, I would also suggest that you buy Trashing the Economy and read it before Climategate. After reading both books, you will better understand our opposition.

To order Climategate go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Climategate-Meteorologist-Exposes-Global-Warming/dp/1935071831

To order Trashing the Economy go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Trashing-Economy-Runaway-Environmentalism-Wrecking/dp/093957117X

Thanks for your service!

Remember Flag Day Today - Comments from the HQ

As The General works on an appeal of the Record of Decision for the Lower Trinity and Mad River Motorized Travel Plan, he wants riders to remember this is Flag Day 2010.

*
PHOTO: Flag Flying at the HQ

*

The Recreation HQ believes Flag Day is a day for all Americans to celebrate our freedom and show respect for our flag. Our flag is strong symbol of our fight for independence and for our unity as a nation.

Our Flag has been carried into every major battle fought by Americans. Many people, including friends of The General, have died protecting it.

Today, patriots throughout this country are engaged in a fierce battle to protect those freedoms from a federal government that is imposing arbitrary land closures, unwarranted and job-killing regulations, and hiding documents from Congress and the public via denied FOIAs filed by the BRC and other groups.

As the Flag flies over The Recreation HQ today, remember that we must stand together in our struggle to preserve the rights and freedoms symbolized by our Flag.

God Bless America and all those engaged in the fight.

Thanks for your service!

*