[Vision2020] Megaloads and Hippies

[Ted Moffett]

"It has been a long time since Moscow's hippies have dug out their leather
vests, put on their Birkenstocks and readjusted their graying ponytails in
an effort to rally "the movement" against "the man." There's something
about a protest to get the blood pumping and, as the Berkeley of north
Idaho, Moscow really knows how to throw one."

Moscow-Pullman Daily News - DNews.com
HIS VIEW: An issue of facts, not emotions

By Henry D. Johnston
June 7, 2011
---------------
This paragraph indulges in gross oversimplification and bigoted
stereotyping of the individuals, and their varied reasoning, who raise
objections to the mega-loads passage through Idaho.  Highly ironic,
given the heading "An issue of facts, not emotions."

There is a diverse group with concerns over the mega-loads, who cannot
accurately be reduced to the ridiculous mocking stereotype of a
"hippie" described.  And the so called "protest" regarding the
mega-loads was smaller than several other public actions in Moscow in
recent years.  Perhaps Mr. Johnston should become more informed about
Moscow's rallies before claiming "it has been a long time" since a
rally of "the movement," whatever that is.

I don't know exactly who "the man" is who some are against, referred
to in this pathetic excuse for analysis, but other protests in Moscow
in recent years focused on civil rights, war, and overthrowing a
dictator, issues that often transcend and unify people of diverse
political, religious and lifestyle orientations.

The largest protests, rallies, actions, I have witnessed in Moscow in
the past decade involved the civil rights march from the SUB to the
administration building on the U of I, associated with the book
"Southern Slavery As It Was"  (
http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/ ), that featured a rousing
civil rights speech to a packed house in St. Augustines center on the
U of I campus before the march; an anti-war protest from Friendship
Square to Perimeter Dr. along the Moscow-Pullman Hwy.
( http://www.palousepeace.org/ ); and the solidarity march from the U
of I to Main St. recently held by U of I students rallying in support
of the recent uprising in Egypt.  I accidently got caught up in this
mostly U of I student march and was amazed by the number of
participants and the fervor of their behavior:
http://www.krem.com/news/local/U-of-I-students-hold-March-of-Solidarity-in-support-of-Egypt-115333979.html
------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On 6/7/11, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> Courtesy of today's (June 7, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Moscow-Pullman Daily News - DNews.com
> HIS VIEW: An issue of facts, not emotions
>
> By Henry D. Johnston
> June 7, 2011
>
> About a month ago the city of Moscow hosted a public forum to discuss the
> potential of moving ExxonMobil's megaloads through Moscow on U.S. Highway
> 95. The meeting was preceded by a good old-fashioned protest,
> demonstrating the true size of a megaload and decrying what it will do to
> Moscow's precious trees.
>
> It has been a long time since Moscow's hippies have dug out their leather
> vests, put on their Birkenstocks and readjusted their graying ponytails in
> an effort to rally "the movement" against "the man." There's something
> about a protest to get the blood pumping and, as the Berkeley of north
> Idaho, Moscow really knows how to throw one.
>
> Quite frankly, I've missed it.
>
> After watching the video of the public forum (courtesy of local politico
> Tom Hansen) I think it's pretty obvious the vocal minority of Moscow's
> residents don't care about the movement of the megaloads as much as they
> care about the broader impact of what happens when the loads arrive at the
> Kearl oil sands in Canada.
>
> While I'm not unsympathetic to the broader implications, I think it's
> inappropriate to try to block the transportation of these loads through
> Moscow simply because you might disagree with the end result. In my book,
> doing so is akin to stopping a funeral procession on its way to the
> cemetery because you disagree with burial as a way to care for our dead.
>
> At their May 16 meeting, the City Council discussed the megaload issue
> after a very informative and thoughtful presentation by City Supervisor
> Gary Reidner. At the end of the presentation, Councilman Walter Steed made
> the motion to accept the report and, at the same time, invite ExxonMobil
> to use our hotels, buy fuel and food and make Moscow their resting point
> once the loads reach the Latah-Benewah County line.
>
> Each council member made well-reasoned arguments in favor of letting the
> loads pass through Moscow. Dan Carscallen pointed out we already have
> 200-foot loads move through Moscow in the middle of the night when several
> chip trucks get traveling in a convoy, and Sue Scott said there is plenty
> of noise created downtown by the closing bells at Mingles and the Corner
> Club.
>
> Steed's motion ultimately passed despite the strong objections of Mayor
> Nancy Chaney. Since then our councilors have taken some pretty heavy and
> unfair criticism of their actions.
>
> But before anyone starts making accusations or generalizations about the
> irresponsibility of our current City Council, I would remind everyone that
> the most irresponsible behavior ever shown by an elected official in
> Moscow was by none other than Mayor Nancy Chaney regarding the sale of
> water to the Hawkins development.
>
> In a memo dated Nov. 19, 2007, to the City Council and city administration
> (after numerous appeals to prevent water right transfers to Hawkins)
> Chaney advocated selling water to Hawkins "at a price, with conditions."
> She also attended the confidential mediation with the Hawkins Companies in
> Spokane and presented the mediation agreement to the council.
>
> It was only after the council voted to approve the agreement, at Chaney's
> express request no less, that she then took a strong about face and
> condemned the sale of water to Hawkins. If you want to talk about
> irresponsibility by an elected official, that one takes the cake.
>
> The megaload issue is truly one of facts.
>
> Fact - state highways, over which Moscow has very little jurisdiction, go
> through our town.
>
> Fact - state-federal roadways are designed to further transportation and
> interstate commerce.
>
> Fact - Moscow's police chief, fire chief and city streets supervisor all
> said there would be no adverse impact to public safety, fire/medical
> response time or even to the infrastructure of the roadways that the loads
> will be traveling.
>
> Megaloads are and should be an issue of facts and not emotions.
>
> The Moscow City Council deserves megakudos (with all puns intended) for
> making an educated decision based on the facts of this issue.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Later, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Airway Heights, Washington
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Author Unknown
>
>