Well......re: Daschle, I guess we shall have to wait and see. It is signed into law now. Which is why the GOP is pushing the same for all states.
Interesting perspective on the USFS. And I have NO doubt that many of the positions, under Clinton, were exactly as you state. And might still be today. I have learned to quickly distrust anyone with an --ologist behind their name.
My perspective is from the lower echelons.....on the District/Supervisor's Office level--WAY outside D.C. Where people still sweat out each new court decision. And yes.......gather all the evidence to meet some new court challenge (including trying to gather data on a fungus that is on the Endangered Species list---but it only grows once every seven years). Or spend 6 months doing cultural analysis/NEPA etc. in order to dig a hole (because the courts tell them they have to---and if you DON'T, you'll get sued). Where budgets have shrunk to the point that some 'good people' are working themselves to death to meet deadlines/job requirements/etc. that are simply impossible with the staff available. I'm sure the hate-gov crowd will see nothing wrong with that. Because you know........ALL government workers are scum. Makes me wonder sometimes why the 'good ones' even care any more. Because many of them DO care.
I did hear an interesting tidbit today...which is...the Bush Adminstration has directed ALL line supervisors etc. to make sure every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed in order to give NO reason for the enviros to file suit, thus keeping the court system out of the area of making policy. Guess they didn't get the message that they were supposed to WELCOME these lawsuits.
Anyway...will log off now. I think this is not an area in which my perspective is welcome or appreciated. You see, I am married to one of those US FLorist Service people. And he IS one of the good ones......as are most who work here with him.
I did hear an interesting tidbit today...which is...the Bush Adminstration has directed ALL line supervisors etc. to make sure every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed in order to give NO reason for the enviros to file suit, thus keeping the court system out of the area of making policy. Guess they didn't get the message that they were supposed to WELCOME these lawsuits. Most people on the line aren't the USFS staff lawyers, are they? I'm talking primarily about FSEEE.
Anyway...will log off now. I think this is not an area in which my perspective is welcome or appreciated. You see, I am married to one of those US FLorist Service people. And he IS one of the good ones......as are most who work here with him.
I am more familiar with "your perspective" than you realize. I am a forest landowner in California. If you had seen as much stupid injustice out of regulators as I have, outright fraud on the part of agency biologists, the predetermined "consensus opinons" of "stakeholders" over roadless areas, snag removal, or burning regulations ALL with the blessing of USFS bureaucrats, you would understand what I am telling you. It's too bad for your husband that he has to tolerate the paperwork and can't do his real job, but unless he puts that job on the line over principle, I don't want to hear about it. People in private industry (including me) have to do that too, and often at far higher risk than civil servants. I have risked my life for my forest. I have dropped my carreer to fix the regulatory problem and I may never see a dime for it. I'm sorry you feel as you do, but I don't often see that kind of commitment out of the employees of State agencies.