JG and Todd...et al


I have the greatest respect for Dave Croonquist and Clint Muns. I have the luxury or hearing much more than a snippet or two from both of them. Enough to know that the health of the resource is top priority to them. Enough to know they walk the walk, too. They are both totally involved in a myriad of issues. They are so far from selfish that it would be laughable to accuse them of such.The WSC is also to be respected. Neither side is 100% right even if arguments on this board make it seem that way. I think what I have absorbed from the "ad nauseum" repetition of the stands made by both distinctly different sides is this:

1.) WSC is a hard working group with many positive ideas and many good people .
2.) WSC is focused on their agenda which as far as I can see is very narrow...Narrow is not meant to be derrogatory. Just narrow.
3.) Many people on this board parrot the views of WSC spokespeople thinking it is the PC thing to do here on this board. Many truly agree with all the WSC positions but don't have the depth of argument to get into the battles.
4.) Opponents of WSR, as initiated by the WDFW commission, on this board have been shot at by all the heavy artillery with atleast one of the most ardent critics being booted off the board with others retreating to the shadows to avoid the flames. It seems sometimes that opposing WSR brands a person as a whacko or indiscriminate fish killer. Those who tout the positives of WSR do so as if they are deity sometimes.
5.) WSR advocates from WSC seem to be very intolerant of those who oppose the moratorium and cannot or will not face the valid concerns articulated in the NOP Chapter letter above. Arguments as made in a concise and straight forward manner as those in the letter above are scoffed at with sarcastic remarks instead of specific, head on rebuttal.
6.) The size of the group opposed to the moratorium is much larger than those on PP would make us all believe. After all this is a steelhead oriented board sponsored by a great guy who happens to be a steelhead guide.
7) Finally (for now) ...the rank and file out there can hardly understand the complexity of the process our fisheries management much go through. WSC understands it and they were able to get a measure into regulations that fits their model of what fishing should be. I have said before that I applaud them for their hard work and for reaching a result they wanted. The opposition has the same opportunity but won't win without cogent arguments...no flaming allowed in front of the commission if you want to get anything done. Get into the back room where all the cigar smoke is and slap a few backs.