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Articles,  Tent Bound

To Preserve Public Lands, There is Only One Choice in This Election

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One of the missions of PaddlingLight is to promote wilderness protection. Why? There are lots of reasons why wilderness and wild places and public lands are good for us, including mentally and economically, but, perhaps, more importantly because wilderness travel by canoe and kayak is the apex of this sport. It’s what we do. We go paddling, and much of the time, we go paddling in areas that are accessed via public lands. While all the destinations that we paddle aren’t in wilderness areas or areas with large expanses of public lands, the celebrated areas — those areas that we dream of paddling — such as the Everglades, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Inside Passage or the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, are either in or surrounded by large expanses of public land. Even the ability to just dream about escaping into the wilds makes our sport better.

Big Agnes tent in the BWCA
This campsite is found in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

As the primary author and publisher, I’ve written about wilderness protection several times before. But, this year is different. It’s different, because the results of the U.S. Presidential and other national races could result in dire consequences for wilderness, our public lands and wilderness protection. I don’t write this editorial to scare you into voting one way or another, but I write it to inform you that your vote will have consequences for wilderness protection more so this year than any other year in our lifetimes. In that way, this year is different.

In the late nineteenth and throughout the twentieth and into the twenty first century, we’ve struggled with what to do with our public lands. But even though we’ve struggled, the majority of public opinion and the opinion of our national leaders aligned. The public supported public land and Republican and Democratic Presidents protected large tracts of public lands and the federal government managed those lands for the public good, and most members of Congress supported keeping federal lands federal.

That has changed.

The Department of Interior names Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and Thomas Jefferson as the greatest conservation presidents. One could argue that the way that we experience public land is directly a result of Republicans Lincoln, Grant and Theodore Roosevelt, but at some point the Republican Party dropped the role of conservationists and it was picked up by the Democratic Party. Even in the 20th Century Republicans still protected public lands; Reagan set aside over 12.5 million acres and G.H.W.Bush set aside 17.8 million acres.

Something changed under G.W. Bush. He protected only 3.8 million acres and now the Republican Party has gotten behind the core message of the Bundy-terrorist armed takeover of public lands movement. That message is federal public lands must be turned over to the states. And as history has shown those public lands will likely be turned over to private hands. For example, 99% of federal land that Utah received at statehood has been sold into the private market. Another example is the Minnesota state land that was prime real estate and part of which was slated to house a bike trail was sold off. Another example in my hometown happened when conservatives took control of the mayorship and council, the city sold off an area that was to be trails and a future nature center. Now several McMansions occupy the space. In Michigan, Republican-appointed emergency managers took over the local governments sold off public property to private real estate investors. This has happened and is happening in every state where Republicans currently have control.

The Republican position on public lands no longer reflects the majority view on public lands. In a 2016 opinion poll on the issue of Our American Public Lands found 58% of American oppose turning public land over to the states. This holds true in every western state and in western 71% say these lands should belong to everyone in our country and not just their state.

The fundamental core principles that guide a political party are found in the planks of that party’s platform. Here’s a plank for the 2016 Republican Party Platform that states the party’s desire to give federal land to the state.

Congress shall immediately pass universal legislation providing for a timely and orderly mechanism requiring the federal government to convey certain federally controlled public lands to states. We call upon all national and state leaders and representatives to exert their utmost power and influence to urge the transfer of those lands, identified in the review process, to all willing states for the benefit of the states and the nation as a whole. The residents of state and local communities know best how to protect the land where they work and live.

Devil's Tower National Monument under the Milky Way
Devil’s Tower was the first national monument.

The Republican Party Platform also calls for the repeal of the Antiquities Act of 1906, which is the tool used by 16 presidents to designate national monuments. The first use of the Antiquities Act was by Republican President Roosevelt. He used it to preserve Devils Tower National Monument.

It’s one thing to have a party plank that nobody pays attention to and in some cases the planks get written by the extremists in the party and ignored by those in the legislature, but that is not the case with these planks. In Congress, we have voting records that show whether or not the party as a whole supports this idea. The House committee on Natural Resources voted  along partisan lines to adopt HR 3650. This is one of the bills that would give national forest land back to the states. In the Senate, SA 838, a budgetary amendment that if passed into law would start the transfer of federal land to the states and then into private hands, was passed along completely partisan lines with only Republicans voting for it. The House Republicans also voted for a bill and passed it out of the House that would take away the President’s power under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate national monuments.

So far, these attempts have failed to become law. But based on voting records and public statements, if there is a Trump presidency (see below) and the Republicans remain in control of the Senate (which seems likely) and the House (which is all but guaranteed), there is no doubt that a version of these bills will be passed in the next four years and some of your’s and my public lands will be transferred to the states and eventually sold into private hands.

As far as the Presidential candidates, Trumps view on public lands is muddied. While I find him personally reprehensible, I’ll give him credit for an interview he gave to Field & Stream about hunting. In that interview, he said that he opposes turning that land over to the states. He was specifically answering a question about hunting land (not all federal land can be hunted on), so you have to be extremely generous to think that he wants to protect all federal land and generous to believe that he wasn’t pandering (based on his prior statements about hunting). But, let’s assume that it’s true for generosity.

canoe in a national forest
This river is within Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota.

In other public statements he has said that he wants to make it easier to develop our public lands, which means oil, coal, mineral and lumber development (PaddlingLight is not opposed to these uses if they are done right), by easing restrictions and regulations. He has also said that the states and local area should have much more control of federal land than they do right now and that this control should make it easier to access minerals and other resources. The review of those projects would be taken from the federal government under his view and given to the states. So, only the states would decide what would be done on our (your’s and mine) national lands. Additionally, his chief policy advisor has said that Trump supports the transfer of federal lands to state and local governments to allow development near expanding cities.

As far as easing regulations, we have those regulations for a reason and those regulations help protect our public lands. For one example of energy development runamoke from lack of regulations look to the oil patch in North Dakota. Because they don’t have regulations on flaring, the intentional burning of natural gas as it comes out of an oil well, they burn off a staggering amount of energy every year. They burn over 375 million cubic feet per day (source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the Department of Energy). The average house uses 52,372 cubic feet of natural gas per year (source: EPA). ONE DAY of flares is enough natural gas for over 7,160 homes for a year! One year of flaring in North Dakota could power over 2.6 million homes per year. (About 2% of all the homes in America). Because I like to keep things local for perspective. One day of flaring could provide Grand Marais with natural gas for over 116 years! One year of flaring in North Dakota could supply Grand Marais for over 42,000 years. This isn’t even mentioning the pollution of the groundwater. I spoke to a rancher out there who said he won’t even drink his well water anymore because it’s dangerous to drink due to pollution caused by the lack of regulation.

artist's point in Grand Marais
This area is the most popular place to hike and visit in my hometown. It is federal land. At one point, a hotel developer wanted the land to build a hotel on.

Those kinds of wastes — and not to mention pollution — happen when you don’t have regulations and when you ease regulations designed to prevent those problems. Sure regulations can make it hard to develop federal land, but we’re looking out not just for a quick return but also the multitude of generations not yet born. Regulations protect our country’s future from short-sighted developers looking for a quick buck. Regulations are designed to keep our public lands healthy and to protect those public resources not just for 10 or 20 years, but for 100s and 100s of years.

On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has a clear policy paper and a voting record showing support for our public lands and wild places. You can read her entire policy at her website, but these are a few important points for us as paddlers (and hunters and anglers):

  • Expand public access to public lands: Because some public lands are surrounded by private lands, an estimated 4 million acres of national forests and other public lands in the West are currently inaccessible to the public. To confront this problem, Clinton will set a goal of unlocking access to at least 2 million acres of currently inaccessible public lands by the end of her first term – halving the amount of public land that is currently off-limits – by pursuing voluntary conservation partnerships with private landowners and state governments to establish new access points, trails, and easements to open public access to public lands.

  • Fight efforts to turn public lands private: In recent years, special interest groups have been supporting efforts to dispose of or sell off America’s public lands, which would privatize national forests, national monuments, and even national parks. Clinton strongly opposes these proposals to sell off America’s natural heritage. She will fight to protect the rights of our children and grandchildren to explore the lands and waters that define us as a nation.

  • Set a goal of doubling the size of the outdoor economy within 10 years, creating millions of new jobs and up to $700 billion dollars in new annual economic activity.

Clinton clearly has a vision for our public lands that will restore them, make sure they stay public and give us more access (paddlers, hunters, anglers, backpackers, birders and outdoor sports enthusiasts). Her public statements and her online policy statements strongly support public lands. Her views about public land are not muddied like Trump’s views are.

On October 3, 1988 President Ronald Reagan sent a message to the U.S. Congress that included the following about our federal parks and federal lands:

The preservation of parks, wilderness, and wildlife has also aided liberty by keeping alive the 19th century sense of adventure and awe with which our forefathers greeted the American West. Many laws protecting environmental quality have promoted liberty by securing property against the destructive trespass of pollution. In our own time, the nearly universal appreciation of these preserved landscapes, restored waters, and cleaner air through outdoor recreation is a modern expression of our freedom and leisure to enjoy the wonderful life that generations past have built for us.

It’s time that we stand firm in America and make sure that this movement to take our federal lands from us ends. Because at the federal level there is only one party and only one Presidential candidate with a clear policy to do so, PaddlingLight endorses straight ticket voting for the Democratic Party and endorses Hillary Clinton for President. It’s the only way to be sure.

[Note: Due to the extreme nature of this election, any inflammatory comments will be deleted without question. Don’t piss on my website with your hate. If you have something to say, use facts and keep it respectful.]

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Bryan Hansel is a freelance writer, award-winning photographer and a former American Canoe Association L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor. His home port is on Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Minnesota. He also teaches photography workshops.

11 Comments

  • Paul Sylvester

    [Sentence deleted] Call it inflammatory if you want…This is the worst pair of candidates I have ever seen. The take away being that self government is the most important government.

  • Jon

    I worry that other policies by the Clinton party will in turn change her policies on public lands. For instance, the second amendment. She has openly stated she is against it and is for registration/confiscation. This specifically goes against the hunting on both public and federal lands. What is there then to stop imminent domain? I also fear that the “off the grid” movement will be impacted as well. Both candidates, in my opinion, are not in our best interests as citizens and we should fight for congressional representatives to make policy/legislation for our public lands.

    Interesting article and I value your stance, that while for clinton, not bashing anyone who opposes her policies. Let us hope whomever is in office can see the value in public lands and protecting our future landscapes.

    • Bryan Hansel

      I don’t think that Clinton or the Democrats would change their opinions on public lands enough to put public lands in danger. To do so would be inconsistent with one of their core beliefs. The Democrats certainly wouldn’t adopt the Republican’s position — and keep in mind that it took 50+ years for the Republican’s to arrive at their current position. Clinton has a long record of support for public lands and the Democratic Party does as well. I could see a compromise getting struck between the GOP and the Democrats which might endanger some of our public lands, which is why need to put pressure on all our representatives by letting them know we value public lands and don’t want it given away.

      I just want to pick a nit with you on the second amendment. She has never stated that she was against it nor was she for confiscation. She did support a national gun registry (I understand the conservative argument that a registry would lead to confiscation. I don’t personally find it a strong argument.), but she backed away from that in 2008. This is her statement in 2008 at the Democratic Debates (January 15, 2008):

      I believe in the Second Amendment. People have a right to bear arms. But I also believe that we can commonsensical approach this, and backed off a national licensing registration plan.

      In fact, some of her earliest statements about guns echo the NRA’s safety rules. You can see her public statements on guns here: http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Hillary_Clinton_Gun_Control.htm Personally, I think both parties are right and wrong on guns. The issue is so polarized that unless you take one extreme or the other, you’re considered the bad guy by both sides. For someone like me who holds my own position on guns that doesn’t agree completely with either party but does agree with some of what each party say, my opinion becomes villainized by both sides. While I think Clinton is wrong on some of her gun policy ideas, ie. assault weapons ban, I don’t think she is all that extreme. You can read her views on her website. She offers detailed policy papers there.

      Thank you for the respectful comment. I appreciate it.

      • Jon

        While the democrats may have a long record of protecting public lands, Clinton historically has gone to the highest bidder. There is no denying that she had ‘pay to play’ politics as the secretary of state. Additionally, she has tweeted she believes gun manufactures should be held accountable for the deaths caused by guns. As well as tweets on stronger gun control. In her mind it is a privilege not a right to own a firearm for any reason. This is again, something she has gone back and forth on. In private channels, it’s been reported she thinks the supreme court is wrong on the 2nd amendment.

        Here lies in the problem of 1. career politicians and 2. politicians who believe they can re-interpret the constitution. (and this is historically both sides, so I’m not pointing at just democrats). By combating the 2nd amendment and using pay to play politics, one could argue that the opportunities for large businesses would be able to build or take over public land via eminent domain. We see this in recent history with bundy and his lands in Arizona (though this was not clinton). So as a hunter, I don’t like my rights to provide for my family being jeopardized. Secondly, I don’t trust that she would have public interest in mind, rather the highest bidder. Which could be an oil company building a pipeline for all we know.

        I’m getting at really that the power lies in our congress-members for any legislation (as the executive branch cannot make laws). That is where we as citizens will find the best way to make our interests known. But this is my opinion, I don’t expect it to nor want it to change who your conscience votes for. Both candidates aren’t the best this country has to offer, but who we have to choose from. Lastly, it’s easy to write a policy on a webpage or say it in a speech. What is actually said or sought after is another thing. We have a corrupt political sect of society that is unaccountable to anyone and that in itself is a danger to more than just lands or guns.

        Thanks for the quick reply.

        • Bryan Hansel

          I’m very hesitant to approve this comment, because you make statements that have no evidence to support them. For example, “Clinton historically has gone to the highest bidder. There is no denying that she had ‘pay to play’ politics as the secretary of state.” There is no evidence to show that this is true.

          You claim there is a tweet that she wants to hold gun makers accountable for the deaths that guns cause. Yet, you don’t present that tweet. If it exists, then present it.

          There is no doubt she supports stronger gun control, but she also believes based on her statements that Americans have a right to own guns. You can read her website to see what she wants to do. There are few politicians who don’t support some kind of gun control. For example, gun control prevents most people from owning or selling or buying fully automatic machine guns or rocket launchers, etc…

        • Bryan Hansel

          Just to be factual: the Bundy terrorists had nothing to do with eminent domain. They refuse/d to pay grazing fees for using our public lands. Their land was not taken by the government. Of course, Trump has come out in favor of using eminent domain. David Boaz of the Cato Institute covered this.

  • Jon

    Bryan- I’m typing from my lunch break at work (was yesterday too) so cannot post links, but she has been shown to put on councils donors for her organization. I can’t remember the gentlemen’s name but he got his position because he donated to the clinton foundation. Additionally, as Sec of State, foreign leaders who donated money were given special treatment, which is against the oath of office and conduct for US government employees. (I used to be one).

    I’m not for trump either, but feel both candidates are poor choices for our country. We as citizens must choose to limit congressional terms and get rid of the “pork” in useless legislation/spending in order to protect our lands for our future children. I’ve read her policies and seen the consequences of her politics/policies first hand. I do not believe she is the best choice for our country, which is my opinion. I am happy we live in a country where we can still be free to choose who we support.

    • Bryan Hansel

      There are allegations of a pay-to-play scheme, and most of the allegations come from the book Clinton Cash. That book has been thoroughly discredited. Nothing was proven, some of the allegations were wild and relied on connections that the 6 degrees of separation game would have found specious, nor is there an active investigation into the allegations. I won’t outline why that book was panned, because it’s an easy Google.

      I’m not going to present an argument over why congressional term limits would be bad for the country (lobbyists get the power), and I will say that “pork” can also be good, helpful and provide good ROI. I’ve also read many of her policy papers and I have personally experienced the consequences of some of those policies (many others haven’t been tried yet). In my opinion, her policies have done more good than harm. I can’t say the same thing about Republican policies, especially those tried since Reagan.

      Due to the reasons that I outlined in the endorsement, I believe that Clinton and the Democratic Party is the best choice for our public lands. It’s the only way to be sure.

      p.s. as a Senator, Clinton co-sponsored bans on earmarks (pork).