Reply #11: You don't understand the concept of Wilderness, do you?

[Hayduke Lives]

Go read some Aldo Leopold or John Muir...I'm certain they would shed some light on the subject.

The federal designation of "Wilderness" is meant to preserve wild ecosystems in their natural state. It is not intended for the benefit of human commercial activity. Roads are incompatible with wilderness. Mining is incompatible with wilderness. The only loophole in the federal Wilderness Act is the exemption for range lice (cattle). This loophole only made it into the law because the welfare ranchers were a powerful lobby back in 1964 when the Act was passed (and sadly, they still are).

The fact that a few small miners will lose their claims is a small price to pay for the intrinsic benefit of more wild country. There are other places to find rocks - and besides, it's the PUBLIC's land...not the miners. Mining "claims" are a dodgy concept to begin with, considering the fact that the public gets nothing in return...save for degradation of their land. See Mining Act of 1872. (I know not all mining/miners are the same, but by in large, we get the shaft from most commercial extraction on public land.)

Wilderness needs no defense, only more defenders
- Edward Abbey