I am pleased to see your recent position as editor at this early point. But I must disagree with your recent commentary in the Nov. 20-23 issue.
You criticize our county commission for the over-representation of ranchers. Land-use issues are not merely political matters for them, this is their economic existence. They might have spare time for political matters in some seasons, but they work mostly 12 to 16 hour days 7 days per week for a major portion of the year. For the few willing to participate in county government, this is most important to their survival. The rest of us are too lazy.
I support all efforts of local government to fight against the Bureau of Land Management and the federal government generally. I read your thorough coverage of the LUPA issue and conclude that the BLM is using obsolete data to increase their options for the future. Current officials might assure that they will not take advantage, but there will be new officials soon who will take all opportunities to increase their bureaucratic powers.
And the current texts are a blank check for bureaucracy.
I struggle to control my urge to comment on the idiocy of the endangered species acts generally, but will defer.
Wayne Beene
Winnemucca
