John Bates' columns in the Lakeland Times are must-reads. John teaches us-gently and with humour-how to recognize and appreciate the natural gifts that we have around us in the Northwoods-And how to protect those gifts.
I only have two complaints-the first is that his columns aren't available (as far as I can tell) on the online edition of the Lakeland Times. The second is that his views are "buried" too far in the paper. He should have space on the editorial page to counterbalance its reflexive anti-DNR, prodeveloper stance.
This last week's column is a great example. John writes about the current trend of dismissing environmental concerns with a fake scientism that says we have to be "certain" and need complete information before we can act to protect the environment. The President's position on global warming and the Lakeland Times' editorial stance on shoreline development come to mind as examples.
John counters:
"We move to new places, take new jobs, raise children, make friends, get married, start businesses, convict people in courts of law, elect officals, manage our resources, et. al., based nearly always on incomplete information."
In counterpoint, John recommends The Precautionary Principle: "...if the consequences of an action are judged to have the potential for major or irreversible damage to humans or the natural world, it is deemed wise not to advance the action."
Please look for the entire essay in the June 23rd edition of the Lakeland Times. Sorry it isn't online, so I can't give you a link.
Mark
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