New Page 1

The LEARN process must be open to the media. Remember, however, that reporters have no more knowledge of self-governance than anyone else and generally favor a command and control regulatory process. Consequently, they will be skeptical of this process, especially when it comes to natural resource extraction in rural America.

A close study of the 2000 presidential voting map graphically illustrates that three-fourths of the counties voted for George W. Bush in hopes of relieving the growing abuse by the federal government of local rural citizens. Citizens in suburban and urban cities know almost nothing of this abuse because liberal, big-city media dominate their news. These reporters and editors have no experience in rural living, natural resource utilization, or environmental issues. Consequently, their reporting encourages or at least sees nothing wrong with this abuse. The economy, custom, culture and environment of rural America is not downtown New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco or any other urban city.

Although natural resources provide the raw material for every aspect of America’s economy and standard of living, it is unlikely that major urban or regional news media will ever understand the needs and requirements of rural citizens to produce them. The local, uncontrolled media is best positioned to understand and be in tune with the true economic and political pulse of their specific rural community, regardless of where it is in the country.

Increasingly, natural resources must be imported because poorly implemented environmental regulations directly or indirectly prohibit the use of America’s own vast natural resources. Mining, timber, cattle, wheat, corn, cotton, soybeans and water can flourish again with grassroots political decisions and their local media! This is the real test of local truth about community stability. Local media provides a bottom up truth that is beginning to resonate across the country.

The local media responds to local and state economic needs and problems. Successful counties who are using the LEARN concept work closely with their local media. Most elected officials who champion grass root participation become winners in their county and state.

Last Updated 05/30/2007