Hail to the hecklers

Spectrum, by Steven Renner

Hats off in support of the "hecklers," the so-called noise makers at the recent meetings in Sutton and Wasilla regarding the coal-bed methane development in the Mat-Su Borough.

It appears a host of the critics of the hecklers don't even live in the Valley, where those of us like myself who have very little to gain, and all to lose, call this place home.

Yes, we are concerned, actually we are beyond concerned. I am a conservative and have voted that way throughout most of my voting life, and don't particularly care to be called a tree hugger, liberal, or a host of other Ogan and Kohring terms in their efforts to politicize this volatile issue. Let's break down the word politics: poly, meaning "many," tics, meaning "bloodsuckers."

As for the heckling, the growing discontent, and the rage, it's the people's growing awareness of what has already happened in Juneau, and is about to escalate into the communities and neighborhoods of this wonderful place we call home. The heckling is over representation, or let me re-phrase, the lack of representation, which has left the stench of something being shoved down our throats through a sewer pipe of hollow promises and propaganda. No one of sound intelligence could ever accept comparing southern Colorado's ecosystem and the consequences of shallow gas development to that of rural Southcentral Alaska -- it's like comparing peas to carrots!

It appears that Scott Ogan and Vic Kohring have forgotten about a great deal of us that they used to wave at along the highway when they were trying to get elected, and opted for the fine wine and dining with the corporate elite in the comfortable isolation of Juneau. Further proof that we need to move the Legislature. The only way to be heard in this day and age is to raise our voices, as we got nowhere with clearing the wax out of the ears of our so called "representatives," by being orderly with big smiles on our faces. After all , we trusted them prior to someone's "legacy" taking precedence over the concerns of the constituency. The lessons in history lead me to believe that Sam Adams, Henry Knox and a few of their associates were most definitely hecklers when they decided to turn Boston Harbor into a large cup of tea, to vent their rage over a lack of representation -- sounds familiar!

When the voices of the people in a free country are stifled, ignored or never entertained in issues that affect the quality of life in their communities, there will be a storm, or I should say, there had better be a storm, for the very essence of a republic, the people's voices, have been breached, and freedom itself is at stake. Hecklers, by their dissent, propagate a free society by exercising the freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment, and express the true character of responsible citizenry by taking an interest in their destiny. They also have the awareness of the necessity of giving up a few episodes of Will and Grace, or Frasier, to come to a town meeting and turn up the volume of discontent to a complacent society in general, who are content with doing nothing to have a voice in the future of their communities. It's this very complacency that leads many to eventually say "why vote, it doesn't matter," and then we have the "elected elite" failing in their duties to serve the constituency, and dictating to their constituents through special interests. Our system is characterized by checks and balances at all levels, beginning first in the community, where the voice of the simplest of individuals has its only opportunity to be heard beyond the ballot box.

I use the word betrayed. I am a property owner of both surface and sub-surface rights, and have a vested interest in what the future of my community is all about. There are other options with the benefits far surpassing CBM; for openers let's start with LNG per Wally Hickel's vision, published on the opinion page of the Anchorage Daily News dated Oct. 8. I have the foul taste in my mouth that the Grand Old Party (GOP), was having a grand old party with Evergreen last winter and forgot to include the people. It would be interesting to know who it was that was present in Juneau when House Bill 69 was drafted, and whisked through into law. It leaves me to question with skepticism the entire coal bed development issue. What has the industry got to hide that needs a "fast track" bypass of scrutiny? Would it not stand to reason that something as great as the TV ads are boasting, something great enough that politicians stake their legacy on it, would withstand the course of public scrutiny on the part of the communities most likely to suffer the consequences of the industry? I would think that the nature of the issue would deem at least as much public notice as the transfer of a liquor license.

It's time that we the people retrieve a spirit from the past, "we don't care how they do it outside," get off our couches and easy chairs, and demand a say in the future of this Valley. A moratorium on further leases and all activities of CBM, get the horse in front of the cart and cancel the blank check of unregulated industry in our back yards. Replace it with a plan that protects the people instead of an industry regulated solely by "trust me," promises, and the corporate bottom line. And, yes it may be necessary that we assume the character of hecklers, but at least we will have a community fit to live in!

Steven Renner is a resident of Soapstone/Palmer.