The attitude expressed in this Mesabi Daily News editorial shows much of what’s wrong with the political climate in my beloved Iron Range.
Iron Range residents who realize we are in a battle for the very economic survival of the region don’t need to hear from elected officials that they need more details on several mining projects. What they need to hear are strong words of support for those initiatives.
But, unfortunately, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is being far, far too meek in her general support for some resource-based projects, calling for “more details” on them.
In a Mesabi Daily News story last Sunday, Klobuchar said regarding the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project slated for the former LTV Mining site near Aurora and Hoyt Lakes: “Support economic projects, yes … but I want to see more details.”
In the same story regarding the Franconia Minerals non-ferrous project at Birch Lake near Babbitt, Klobuchar said: “Open to the project … but want to see more details.”
Those remarks sound like something that would be voiced by a spokesperson for any of several environmental groups that continually pour money and effort into trying to block darn near every mining-related venture that comes along.
“Support …. but.”
Vintage Messy Daily.
Voice of Mass Destruction! Not mine, but it fits!
There is definitely a one sided, tunnel vision opinion in this paper.
I’ve written letters to the editor. Not one of them has been published. Why? Because the tone of them was not very supportive of proposed projects on the Iron Range. Boondoggle projects that will cost all of us if they move forward.
Keep up the good work Aaron!