Federal lands

Earlier in July, my husband and I had the opportunity, along with many others, to enjoy the beauty of Glacier National Park once again. Every summer, we venture up to Glacier to spend a few days to enjoy this blessing that has been given to us.

The ranger programs and hikes present factual information given by professionals who are passionate about this gift our government made public. No other country in the world has a system of public lands like America.

Thanks to the United States government for having the vision to protect and preserve the landscape of this beautiful region. It wasn’t easy, as there were political leaders who had other ideas. They wanted the land for themselves, with big plans to commercialize and reap profits from mining. With the citizens and the future of the United States foremost on the minds of intelligent leadership, we now have a system that is the envy of the world.  

Unfortunately there are still political leaders who are not satisfied with the vision these wise, thoughtful legislators had so many years ago. There is a movement to restructure the management of our federal public lands by transferring the responsibility to the state level.

Any intelligent leader would realize that this vast amount of land deserves to remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government. No one can deny there is a hidden agenda behind this transfer. We all can speculate that states would soon have to sell the land to put revenue in the states’ treasuries in order to survive. The rich and powerful will be waiting at the door, eager to buy and shut out the public. Public lands are for you and I. Let’s keep them that way.

Democratic United States representative candidate John Lewis will make sure federal public lands will stay as they are now. The United States government will continue to have the vision to preserve and protect our public lands for all to use.

Thank the Good Lord, we will sing grateful praises from the highest peaks to shores along our borders. Elect John Lewis this November. He will make sure federal public lands will stay under the management of the federal government. They are an important American heritage, now until eternity.

JoLynn Yenne

Bigfork