Posted by Brad Wayne on July 26, 1999 at 20:40:39:
In Reply to: Re: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary posted by David Trotter on July 26, 1999 at 13:20:47:
As someone who has absolutely no stake in the Thunder Bay issue, I find the amount of fervently ignorant distrust of the sanctuary and NOAA to be highly suspicious. History teaches us to beware of individuals who spew dogmatic mantras of fear and mistrust - this is how the Communists exerted their influence over those with weak minds and wills. All this zeal against what is essentially an underwater National Forest suggests in the strongest manner that the opposition views this area as its own fiefdom to use as it wishes. I seriously doubt that those who cite this situation as an example of governmental expansionism truly have the "state's" best interests at heart. Rejection of the sanctuary benefits only a select few who are enjoying the privileges of the status quo. I fail to see how a Michigan citizen living in Wyoming or Monroe benefits from this shared state resource if they are unaware that it exists. I find it highly amusing that Mr. Trotter cites the Alpena referendum as evidence against the sanctuary. First, the lakes and the bottomlands do not belong to the city of Alpena, rather they belong to the state and all of its citizens. Second, the percentage is only of the voter turnout - 70% of say 50% of the electorate is far from a majority. Minority rule is a typical hallmark of liberalism. I believe the National Marine Sanctuary would provide greater access and awareness for Michigan's citizens of this shared resource. There is no rational reason to oppose the sanctuary unless one fears it may interfere with current activities that profit at the expense of the citizens of the state of Michigan.
Brad Wayne
I'm an NRA member and I VOTE.