Yesterday, I received an “official” 2014 U.S. Government Survey from my Congressman Patrick McHenry. My Congressional district (NC-10) has been so gerrymandered that my zip code is split.
Instead of just ignoring the survey, I decided to look at it carefully. He asks about taxes, taxes and taxes. Whether his question is about food stamps, the national debt of social security, it comes down to “do you want your taxes cut?” But taxes is what we pay for a civil society.
The survey completely ignores the state of our public lands. So I wrote him a letter as well.
I am disappointed in your priorities for our state and country.
As I fill out your survey, I see that you ask no questions about our environment or the state of our public lands. In North Carolina, we are so lucky to have both the most visited park in the country, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited park unit in the country, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the most visited national scenic trail, the Appalachian Trail.
We also have our own hiking trail, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Across North Carolina, part of our NC state park system.
I also see that you voted to drop protection of our own Cape Hatteras National Seashore. H.R. 2954 is a package of bills damaging to public lands. I oppose provisions to remove protections at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Title V) and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Title VII). Why did you vote this way? Do you know why?
The stewards of our public lands are working harder and harder and need our support. Thank you!
PS I doubt I’ll get an answer.
By the way, the bill would remove protection in Cape Hatteras and allow more vehicles on the beach.
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