Long-term gains over unrestrained extraction

In response to Rep. Eric Anderson’s opinion piece in the Bee (Jan. 27, 2013):

I agree with Rep. Anderson, R-Priest River, that under the administration of the state of Idaho lands presently overseen by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management would more quickly and efficiently be exploited for (someone’s) economic gain.

I am more interested, however, in the long-term gains of protected water and wildlife, and an economy that is stable into the future rather than subject to the boom-and-bust of unrestrained resource extraction.

JOHN O’CONNOR

Bonners Ferry