No one loves forests and parks more than me. All things trees, in fact. I love wood, have a deep reverence for it. I have my whole life. That began, I recollect, when I was five watching my father build a bookcase. My brother’s wife has it now. Now, it’s seventy years old.
I built my own wooden house, and barn. Which I turned into a woodshop. Wherein I built fine furniture–sometimes from trees I logged myself on my own property. This here liquor cabinet for
instance. It might “live” for thousands of years. Yes, wood is alive even when “dead”. Here is another piece I built, a cherry wood jewelry box. The box sits atop a stand made of red oak.
Therefore, when that above post landed in my inbox, I took notice.
What? I thought. Trump’s doing that! Because, I love all things trees.
Henceforth, I went and googled said order. As it turns out – the post is not true. That’s not what the order order’s. Let’s get into it.
The Order
says: To pick up (increase) our domestic timber industry. So as not to have to import lumber from Canada. Because we have plenty of trees here that aren’t being utilized. Additionally, many said trees contribute to wildfire hazard. Furthermore, that increase will provide new jobs.
The Order says nothing about where, how, and how much logging should be. It does direct the removal of some red-tape.
The Order’s rationale is that the increase will “protect our national and economic security.”
My thoughts
are that Trump is correct; and that the campaign against the order amounts to fear inducing propaganda. Because many people in positions of power just lost an election, and potentially their jobs and power. Those people want to keep their jobs, and their power.
It’s not about the forests, or parks. If logged right, everything will be just fine. Better, in fact. Logging is good, hard, and yes dangerous, work. It is work for men and we have a lot of men without work. There are so many lasting benefits for the country when men have work. Additionally, so many other problems will disappear, too.
Logging done right
is the key. Fortunately there is a model. Moreover, there’s a YouTube channel that details how that’s done. The channel is Lumber Capital Log Yard. It was started by two sisters who run the sawmill. Their father, “The Boss”, does the logging.
Grandpa does maintenance. Mom and little brother all work, too.
Think about it. What if that model were replicated across the whole county! Instead of just 50,000 loggers there were 500,000. Or how many were needed to meet the needs of the nation. Furthermore, all the downstream jobs. Boom! Make America Great.
In Conclusion
As I said, no one loves all things trees more than me. I’m too old now to work with wood. (My eyes are shot, and my strength and stamina gone.) However, I remember when … . I was never as happy as when I logged trees, built my own house, and the furniture in it.
So the key is, logging done right. It can be done! Don’t fall for the propaganda. Be part of the solution not the problem.
Cheers. Time to hit that liquor cabinet up for a shot of dark whiskey.
Obviously, I could say/write a lot more about this. But, I like to keep my posts short. Because we are all pressed for time. However, I’d love to hear from you- what you think.🍻❤️
Hmmm. As I read it, the order targets “Federal lands managed by the BLM and the USFS.”
Following up on that, The USFS manages 193 million acres of forest and woodlands, according to its website.
The BLM manages 58 million acres, according to its website.
That’s 251 million acres in total. So you’re right, not true. It’s just the amount of acres he’s targeted at looking at and exaggerated. So yes inflated and exaggerated for propaganda purposes.
Now you say it could create 500,000 loggers if done right. The term “right” feels very subjective. Can you point to where that information is coming from? How is that estimate more truthful and less exaggerated than the one from the post? Is speculation not at the root of both? For what it’s worth I hope you’re right. Show me his concern for the wilderness. Golf courses don’t count ☺️
Thanks, Jake. We both share a concern for wilderness preservation. I don’t know about Trump. I do know his children do. Especially Don Jr. and Ivanka. And, they have a big influence on him.
And yes, I made up the number of potential logging jobs. Unfortunately, it’s not something boys & men aspire to. I have no idea how many loggers it would take to meet Trump’s goal of replacing the Canadian % of imported lumber, which I read was 30% of our current demand.
My points are: Logging is a job worth doing; and we (the US) need more men working. We have over 7,000,000 men of prime working age not in the labor market AT ALL. (see the above link for reference.)
Using the LCYL model would solve so many problems. Do I think it’ll happen? No; but it is a solution worth consideration. which is something all the propaganda avoids. When looking up the Order I had to wade through lots of articles and videos – all of which were slanted and full of half-truths, at best. All negative.
For now – our parks and forests are in no danger. Logging done right is worth doing.
Some quick math- if we were to replace the 30% of Canadian imported lumber with lumber logged locally- that would require 15,000 loggers. If 50,000 loggers produce 70% of current demand. Right?
So why bother? Well, it’s a start.
A man of tremendous talents! A statesman AND a carpenter/woodworker? OK, now I’m totally impressed!
Thanks for the kind words, Rich. If only … sigh, shrug. It seems hopeless. At least – Trump is trying, making an effort. And I think he truly cares about America’s people and its future.
Beautiful workmanship Mark. Dad always had woodworking projects on his bench. Sometimes he let us kids try sanding.
It would be great to see out of work people in logging. Realistically, how many do you think could fill empty spots?
Thanks, Joyce. Sanding was always my least favorite part of the process. No wonder your dad let you kids have at it. 🙂
I agree, it would be great; but realistically? not many. Trump’s order opens the door … . However, after that it falls on individuals to take it on. LCLY is the model; but how many men have The Boss’s grit? Masculinity has been under assault for decades. Which is one reason the country is in crisis. A huge topic worthy of consideration (and a lot of time and space.)
Thanks again, for reading and commenting.