FOREST: Campaign for health

There are many scenic drives in beautiful North Idaho. However, if you want an education in what happens if these beautiful forests are not maintained, take a short drive to English Point Road. If you go north on Highway 95 two miles past Hayden you will arrive at Lancaster Road. If you then proceed east on Lancaster Road for three miles you will arrive at English Point Road on your right.

As you initially enter English Point Road you will see a sign on your left designating this area as Idaho Panhandle National Forest. As you drive south on this road you are surrounded on both sides by the National Forest. As you proceed down this road you will become appalled by the devastation of this forestland with extensive fallen and standing dead trees.

The obvious question is, if this is a national forest area, do not our local congressional leaders have some responsibility for the proper maintenance of this area? The second question then arises, if they can’t responsibly manage a problem right in their own back yard, how can we expect them to be responsible for the bigger issues of our nation? This highlights and identifies the obvious reality that the main focus of our national politicians is to get re-elected and hide out in Washington, D.C., collecting their high salaries and the perks that go with it. We also can’t forget how they have to maintain their loyalty to the lobbyists rather than their constituents.

It’s hard for me to understand how our national politicians are not embarrassed to be promoting themselves to be re-elected when they fail to carry out their most basic obligations. I guess that is why the congressional approval rating is in the range of 13 percent.

I recently completed a book where I address the incompetence of our congressmen entitled, “Integrity Matters.” I left a copy of the book at the offices of Senators Crapo and Risch. I also left a copy at Rep. Labrador’s office. Hopefully they will all take the time to read the book and gain some insights as to how better serve their constituents.

With all the decayed wood present in these neglected forests, a fire started by lightning or whatever would produce a mammoth fire beyond description in a heavily populated area.

WILLIAM TARNASKY, M.D., J.D.

Hayden