Just when I was second guessing myself for posting that rant, you guys give me an atta boy. Thank you. And to show my appreciation, here is a little story along the lines you outlined above Dave.
About ten years ago, one of my logger friends ran into some trouble on a USFS roadside salvage timber sale. Seams the local environmentalist was upset that the USFS was actually cutting dying and diseased trees as well as dead ones. Our local enviro was so upset that he scheduled a press tour of the timber sale area to show the local press the alleged environmental damage.
I got there early and walked the area before the entourage showed up. I was sitting on a stump watching them walk up the skidtrail when our self-proclaimed savior of the earth saw me. His press tour consisted of the local District Ranger, and a local reporter - nobody else showed up.
Upon reaching me, he immediately started to criticize the job, "Trees like that should be left for wildlife" he said, pointing to broken off fir snag, "they are important for cavity nesting species." "Like what?" I asked, "Furbearers like fishers and martins." I played along, "Really? Fishers nest in trees like that?" "Yes" he replied, "I didn't know that! That's just great!" I said. "Why is that great? he asked suspiciously.
"Well that tree is right next to a paved road and is less then 100' from the busiest trailhead to the Marble Mountain Wilderness. I'm glad that fishers have adapted to these conditions, now we don't have to set aside 5,000 acres for each one."
This was not the conclusion he wanted to hear. The Ranger was delighted, the newspaper man was amused. The rest of the day went pretty much like that exchange.
After that, our local savior of the earth avoided me like the plague.