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Smoking Them Out: The Theft of the Environment and How to Take It Back by [Greg Walcher]

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Greg Walcher

Smoking Them Out: The Theft of the Environment and How to Take It Back Kindle Edition

by Greg Walcher (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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While many books assess the history of the environmental movement and offer perspectives of what has gone right or wrong since its inception around 1970, there is no doubt that the issue has become less about science and practical conservation as it has become more highly polarized and politicized. Property rights, the Endangered Species Act, forest management, energy, natural resource development production and other critical issues have been reduced to political footballs, while responsible efforts stall and Americans grieve dying forests and record gasoline prices.

Until now. Greg Walcher, President of the Natural Resources Group, and American leader in natural resource policy, offers a breath of fresh air with “Smoking them Out”. This svelte three hundred paged tome provides the backdrop of a sober accounting of how a mountain of entangling regulations have inflicted unintended consequences upon “stewards of the land” - farmers, ranchers, and landowners - while providing a way “out of the wilderness” with practical policy and local solutions.

“Beneficial conservation measures should not consist of thousands of pages of legalese that only a Senate staffer can understand. The solution to many of our environmental problems is simple, measurable, and sustainable both economically and from a conservation standpoint.”

Print length

324 pages
Language

English
Publication date

July 1, 2013
File size

4621 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DQYOFMG
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4621 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,176,615 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,497 in Conservation
- #1,919 in Environmental Policy
- #5,898 in Environmentalism

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10 ratings

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4 star		18%
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Top reviews from the United States

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P. Melrose

Excellent resource!

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book should be read by everyone who is serious about saving beautiful places and our way of life. Greg Walcher is experienced, knowledgeable and practical about the challenges involved in conserving and protecting natural resources, particularly in the Mountain West.

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R. Teck

the truth about the environmental movement in the US

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

Mr Walcher, with his years of experience up close and personal to the issue, has written a very readable explanation of why we are in so much trouble in this country. The USA has done more than any other country in the world to solve our pollution problems and the fools in the environmental community are hell bent on destroying this country.

Helpful

Linn A Weiss

"Smoking Them Out" by Greg Walcher

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2013

Verified Purchase

Turned off by today's contentious "us vs. them" environmental wars? Take heart -- there's an adult in the room. His name is Greg Walcher and, for my money, has just written a tour de force on America's environmental legacy (Smoking Them Out: The Theft of the Environment and How to Take it Back). By rising above divisive bickering, partisan politics and back-and-forth lawsuits, Walcher has even-handedly sought the truth, intent on directness and light. His grade card on today's environmental machinations? Poor. But his new "road blocks to road maps" strategy can restore common sense and clarity to the issue.

To do the right thing for the environment, one first needs an informed, fair-minded champion. Walcher has many years of experience in both the private and public sectors. Operating his family's orchard and produce business, his stints in both federal and state governments, including heading the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, as well as his Club 20 organization leadership uniquely equip him to offer wise counsel. And his urgent advice? Make future environmental decisions based on sound facts -- not phony political agendas.

Anyone reading this book senses a unique voice. Walcher can't be pigeonholed -- he admiringly quotes certain individuals on both left and right -- and he doesn't shy away from controversy. While a Westerner imbued with a keen sense of place, he passionately argues for nationwide environmental justice. He reminds his readers that the early conservation movement's Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot wanted resources used wisely to support mankind's needs, to be renewed and preserved for future generations, and to be available equally to all people -- not held as the province of an elite few.

It's obvious that today's mishmash of conflicting environmental laws and the federal government's overreaching on land management matters have stirred Walcher's ire. And, he questions why the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is narrowly enforced today solely for conservation, but not as its authors also intended, for quantifiable recovery (and de-listing) of species. He notes that the ESA has devolved into a punitive system, not based on incentives or partnerships, because the federal government chooses not to trust state and local officials. Walcher maintains that species recovery, which includes habitat restoration and protection, should be the ultimate objective.

Smoking Them Out is a veritable storybook of the vanquished -- the unneeded, malfunctioning and overwhelming fish screen installed smack in the middle of Thelma Hays' Colorado farm by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, only one example of extreme government overreach. Walcher argues that with the U.S. government now owning nearly 650 million acres -- one-third of the country, nearly all in the West -- America must reject a simplistic "us vs. them" demonizing mentality: federal vs. state/local, "green" East vs. "brown" West, agriculture/energy vs. aggressive public land expansion. Regarding the latter, he warns that because public land is not subject to property taxes, some local communities are finding it increasingly difficult to fund schools, fire departments, water and sewer systems, and sustain their economy, history, culture and quality of life.

A very thought-provoking book -- compelling to read, with continual insights and surprises. Brew a pot of coffee, pull up a comfortable chair -- spend time with someone who has truly "walked the walk" on the environment and commands the respect of people with real hands-on experience. Greg Walcher's book is jam-packed with priceless wisdom. Clearly, he wants to do right by the environment, articulate sound goals, ensure that the public knows the issues, and raise the bar on today's public discourse and decision-making.

4 people found this helpful

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linda afman

Great Read

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015

Verified Purchase

wonderful book, Greg has such knowledge on the subject of our enviorment and the Federal Government. A quick read, subjects ( water, forest, grazing, etc.) flow nicely giving you a tremendous amount of facts and knowledge. The book is not boaring at all

Helpful

Matt Soper

Easy to read and the author makes a well thought ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

Easy to read and the author makes a well thought out argument, backed by evidence, experience in government, and examples. The basic thesis for the book is that the environmental movement has been hijacked by those who don't necessarily want to improve the environment, but push their own political agenda using the environment as a tool. The author is very much an environmentalist and conservationist, but is advocating goals with plans to save certain plants and animals. Many will find the author's case compelling, as I did, and if following the Walcherian model, stewardship is put back into the care of the natural environment.

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Lorre McKeone

Excellent, well documented, worth the read

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is an extremely well thought out book written by someone who has actually been involved in practical solutions to save our endangered species and protect our environment. If you are truly concerned about solving our environmental challenges you must read this book.

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jackie

Long and Erratic

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

Walcher took the time to write down his thoughts based on years of experience. I appreciate that.

But to write a book that condemns the "environmental industry" without even one tiny attack on private industry and its misuse of the courts and many many environmental atrocities is simply an unbalanced approach. We barely hear of the Deepwater Horizon or the other horrific environmental and health issues in Louisiana created by industry.

Name calling, boogeymen, and saying one thing in one paragraph and equivocating the next...? This is definitely not a must read. It is laborious, often disrespectful, and completely, completely one sided.

One person found this helpful

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B&BD .....

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

All the facts and history of government overreach and waste.

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