EckerNet.Com

Ok I admit, I was away this weekend taking advantage of Minnesota’s pheasant hunting opener. So perhaps I missed a news story or two, but as far as I know Pawlenty hasn’t switched parties. So what am I supposed to make of the fact that he apparently has started worshipping at the Temple of Gore, and wants to find ways to penalize Minnesotans for driving.

First of all, let’s set aside the whole man-made global warming thing being completely ludicrous. What really bothers me is how completely ignorant one would have to be of Minnesotan culture in order to think this is a good idea.

Consider for example, what has been basically a staple of Minnesotan life. During the week, we work our tails off to fund our liberal government’s many many entitlement programs. During the weekend, many go “up north” for the weekend. Okay sure, not every weekend, but many. Sure not everyone has a “cabin on the lake”, but they probably know someone who does. Yeah, it’s not necessarily up north, but it’s outstate (read : far away). Start tacking on fees and penalties and monetary penalties for driving and consider the impact that will have?? How much do those cabins and vacation homes contribute to the Minnesota economy, not to mention our sanity?

Let’s also consider tourism. Minnesota has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources. And largely part of our culture has been to maintain them, and we’ve been very successful without the meddling of the nanny-state. From the boundary waters, to the lake resorts, to the north shore to rolling hills in southern Minnesota. There are alot of outdoors to enjoy. Start adding fees onto all that, and how many out-of-staters are going to want to visit? How many Minnesotans will put aside their plans for a nice trip up to the north shore to instead get that yard work done they’ve been putting off?

And let’s not forget a industry that contributes untold numbers of dollars to the Minnesota economy. Hunting & Fishing. This is a sport that very frequently requires travel, unless one is lucky enough to live on the land that they hunt, or on the lake that they fish. Not to mention that as our metropolitan areas increase and our population is increasingly concentrated there, travel will be increasingly necessary to find decent hunting/fishing areas.

And before you write off that industry entirely, let me remind you that roughly 39% of Minnesota fall into this category, and sportsmen contribute a hell of a lot more to conservation efforts than any environmentalist. Even in the worst case scenario it’s for selfish reasons…they need habitat to hunt on, habitat that will support wildlife. Although I suspect that those are a minority in the sporting community, with many simply having a passion for the outdoors. Putting all sorts of additional fees on this industry is not likely to further your goals.

And while we’re talking about conservation. Can I point out that your damn fool insistence on furthering this agricultural boondoggle, otherwise known as ethanol makes conservation/water quality very very difficult. Massive subsidies on corn usage, makes it harder to convince farmers to restore land to it’s natural state, amongst all sorts of other problems.

Tell you what Pawlenty, take your little blue ribbon committee and stuff a corn cob in your mouths. Stopping the hot air you’re blowing will do more to preserve our environment than any damn fool social engineering you can come up with.

[H/T Rezidral Forcees]

[Crossposted at True North]