Free Republic

Parts 2 and 3 are below. McManus is President of the Birch Society and he narrated the really cool documentary making the rounds about American government. Interesting to note all the gold China is buying right now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dQWmCZDU2c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoPjPgnIgok

There's nothing wrong with a group of people historically at odds sitting down to find common ground. Or is there? For decades, our public lands have been a battleground: Timber, wildlife, recreation, wilderness -- which interests and uses should dominate? But now, "collaboration" is all the rage. In collaboration, diverse stakeholders (as they invariably tag themselves) -- environmentalists, developers, off-roaders, timber companies, county officials -- hash out an agreement on how to manage their local public lands and then submit it to Congress for approval. A few deals already have been enacted, and another half a dozen are in the...