Remember, ‘taxes are for little people’ Environmentalists not to blame for fires

In the late 19th Century, Pluto and Clytemnestra Orland founded the pioneer Orland clan on the west side of the Sacramento Valley. Chester Orland and Chico Orland are scions of that family. The brothers were recently dining outside at Farwood Restaurant in Orland. Tables situated six feet apart did not prevent folks nearby from overhearing the following conversation: Chico Orland: “As lifelong Republicans, should we be concerned about the revelation that Donald Trump has finagled his way out of paying taxes for the past 15 years?” Chester Orland: “Well, brother Chico, the very wealthy Leona Helmsley of New York once sneered, “We don’t pay taxes; taxes are for little people,” By that, brother Chico, she meant that she considered herself to be one of the socially elite; that is, folks who were not part of the riff-raff and who could hire someone to manipulate their tax forms, conjure up multiple deductions, and make their returns result in minimal payments and even refunds.”

“Donald Trump is deeply in debt, but he considers himself one of the non-riff-raff elite who can cheat and lie his way into bogus losses and questionable deductions so that his tax bill is negligible.” “B..b..b..but brother Chester,” said Chico Orland, “does that mean that Trump considers himself better than us, his loyal supporters?” “Yes it does,” said Chester, “He’s only interested in himself.” “To Trump, we’re merely the fools he can con into voting for him.”

— Michael Herman, Chico

Blaming California forest fires on “Environmentalists” is nonsense. Without logging, forests consist of large old trees, spaced far apart, that shade the forest floor. The undisturbed forest floor is relatively devoid of brush and is spongy and moist. If there is a fire, it burns slowly and doesn’t ignite the forest canopy because the trees are tall. They are called “old growth” for a reason. Older trees are more valuable, so they have been logged preferentially.

Logging encourages the growth of brush, while drying out the forest floor and increasing overall temperatures during the fire season. These conditions, coupled with smaller trees growing closer together, provide an ideal environment for fire. Forest fires are a natural phenomenon which humans have inhibited to protect trees for logging and to protect people who insist on living in fire prone areas. Blaming forest fires on “Environmentalists” is simply a ploy used by the logging industry (and the Forest Service) to rationalize their use of poor “Forestry Practices.”

Implementing “Environmentalists” practices, touted for many years, would actually reduce the severity of fires in wildlands and save the lives of millions of innocent wild animals who must live there.

— John McMurtry, Chico