‘Changing the structure’

Interior Dept. reforms could help Nevada

In this era of perpetual indignation, not a day can go by without another outrage — and perhaps even two or three. With Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Democrats seem particularly susceptible to offense and insult. On Tuesday, they turned their sights on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

Mr. Zinke was already in the cross-hairs for daring to recommend that a handful of new national monuments — including Gold Butte in Nevada — be slightly reduced in size. But the shaming machine ramped up to full power after Mr. Zinke gave a Monday speech to an oil industry group and criticized some Interior employees.

In the talk, the secretary compared his department to a pirate vessel and said, “I got 30 percent of the crew that’s not loyal to the ship.” His point was that many bureaucrats under his command are captive to a radical green agenda and are impediments to reform.

For the sin of speaking the truth, Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat and the ranking minority member of the House Natural Resources Committee, called for Mr. Zinke to walk the plank and “apologize to the public servants he is supposed to be leading.” Rep. Grijalva argued that the secretary doesn’t “deserve” loyalty “with divisive comments like these.”

In the Senate, Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, called Mr. Zinke’s comments a “cheap shot” at Interior’s 70,000 workers. “Replacing them with purely political people will not protect our public lands or protect taxpayers from special interest sweetheart deals.”

But Mr. Zinke said nothing about replacing Interior civil servants “with purely political people.” Is it really so egregious that agency heads would prefer employees willing to carry out the president’s agenda, in line with existing laws, to those who have other ideas? This is true regardless of who holds the presidency.

“There’s too many ways in the present process,” Mr. Zinke said, according to The Associated Press, “for someone who doesn’t want to get (a regulatory action) done to put it in a holding pattern.”

He’s correct. Red tape and obstruction are the enemies of productivity and efficiency.

To that end, Mr. Zinke revealed that he will likely seek a reorganization of the Interior Department. “I really can’t change the culture without changing the structure,” he said.

The AP reports that any shuffle could include relocating several agencies —including the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation — from Washington, D.C., to the West in an effort to bring decision-makers closer to the areas they manage.

This is an excellent idea — and long overdue.

Far from being controversial, Mr. Zinke’s comments this week are encouraging. And on the matter of reorganization, Nevada’s congressional delegation should sit down with the secretary to pitch him on the advantages of the Silver State as a potential home for, say, the BLM. As the state with the highest percentage of federal land within its boundaries, Nevada should be the obvious choice.

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Fax 702-383-4676 what ought to unite us as Americans.

We can disagree on how law enforcement and the justice system have dealt with recent disgraceful actions by some police officers. As an observer reliant on legitimate and truthful news coverage, I, too, am disappointed in what appears to be an imbalance in our justice system when it comes to justice for some minorities.

I believe, however, that there are three things that ought to unite us as Americans: our flag, the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe that those taking a knee may want to consider that they have myriad other platforms to voice their opinion. If they understood this, their message may be more tolerable and understandable to those who are so offended by those using the national anthem as the medium of their message.

We as Americans will always disagree on many things. Let’s try to stay united on what we ought to be able to rally around and we may all get along a lot better.

Why is it when President Donald Trump makes remarks about North Korea and Iran pursuing nuclear arms and threatening our country and citizens, he is accused of dangerous rhetoric that could escalate to war? Yet North Korea firing missile after missile, some over a peaceful Japan, isn’t regarded as an escalation toward war?

Why is it that people look to protect the rights of those who come to this country illegally and commit violent crimes against our citizens? What about the rights of victims?

With every action, there is a reaction. Stop kneeling during our national anthem, disrespecting our flag, our nation and all who fought and lost their lives for it, and you won’t be called out for doing so. Do not refuse an invitation from the president in honor of your accomplishment, and you won’t be called out for it. Don’t fire rockets threatening our nation, and you won’t be called out on it. Don’t come to America illegally and commit crimes against our people, and you won’t be called out on it.

With every action, there is a reaction. Think about your actions.