[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dear Editor: As a Wisconsin citizen, I would bet that you think the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources works for you and other state citizens. Unfortunately you would be wrong. On everything that the Wisconsin DNR is statutorily required to “manage,” from wildlife to environmental enforcement, they have to answer to and get approval from the seven unelected members of the Natural Resources Board.
Why is this an issue you may ask? It is an issue because the NRB is stacked with political appointees that often make decisions on the very things that put money in their own pockets and those of their ideological allies. One member, the board chair, has the eminent environmental qualification of being a dentist, another a realtor, another a hunting equipment “outfitter,” and founder of a hunting lobbying group, and yet another is the former president of, you guessed it, a big agriculture industry lobbying group.
Even more appalling is that the voice of the average citizen that does not hunt or farm is essentially muted through law because the majority of the political appointees are required to have a hunting license or be part of agriculture. In other words, the voices of the 90% of citizens that aren’t a part of these special interests are brushed off and ignored by the walking and talking conflicts of interest sitting on the board. Don’t believe me? Watch any of the Natural Resources Board hearings on the DNR website and you will see hubris, eye rolling, misinformation, and a total disregard for non-consumptive citizen input from several of these board members on every topic from water pollution to wolves. If you aren’t part of their ideological niche your voice does not matter. 10% lording over and discounting the 90%? How is this democracy or representative government?
Melanie Weberg
Osceola
MELANIE WEBERG IS THE STATE DIRECTOR OF LOHV/WISCONSIN
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Blood Trail From a Wounded Deer Turns Joy to Sorrow, Rage, & Pain
Lucy McKernan, a C.A.S.H. member, has been actively trying to stop bow hunting in her neighborhood. She sent images of a horrifying blood trail across a popular hiking path and wrote:
Unfortunately, my city allows bow hunting. It’s legal!
I’m feeling a lot of rage and I’m crying a lot. One of the only sources of reducing stress that I have in my life right now is to go out walking and I feel I’ve been robbed of that.
I also keep imagining this poor deer flailing around gurgling on her own blood.
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Over the years, the C.A.S.H. Courier has been giving a voice to people who have been terribly affected by hunting. While hunters are only 3% of the population, unfair laws pro- tect this “sport” that causes so much grief, angst, and wildlife death.
We’ve been pointing out that wildlife management divisions are the only recipients of the firearms excise tax but, to receive it, they must manage for hunting — for more use of firearms and ammo. Whether gun control organizations like it or not, they will need to rout out the firearms industry inside our government, and stop appealing to the foxes (the governors) who are guarding the hen houses.
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