Re: SB Forest clinging to life

It is my opinion, after studying the Forest Service and other related agencies and interests, that in San Bernardino County these type of disasters result in billions of dollars in aid from the Federal and State Government. There is FEMA, U.S.F.S., disaster, money for each fire especially if it ends up on Federal land. The drought made the forest vunerable to the bark beetle. The bark beetle infestation resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of Federal funds. Then the flooding.

Have you ever heard of a pattern called "problem-reaction-solution"? I heard about it from a college professor giving a lecture. First there is the problem whether created or an act of nature, then there is the public outcry, do something about this, this is terrible, then there is the solution which of course is going to cost huge amounts of taxpayer money.

These problems with the forest have been known since at least April 1999, this is 2004. The agencies are now pointing fingers as to who is to blame for the delay in taking action. The latest scapegoat is the U. S. Fish and Wildlife who are the controlling agency with the Endangered Species Act.

The bark beetle had ravaged these mountains before and had radically changed the eco-system in the 1950's. so the bark beetle was nothing new. The drought was well-known and the effect of drought on the trees would not take a rocket scientist to predict.

I will do some research and let you know how much money this has cost the taxpayers so far. The billions come into San Bernardino County and these agencies can't wait to get their hands on it.