Im a Michigan resident and according to the NAFTA agreement,we MUST allow Canada to dump their garbage in our State. They dont even have to pay a duty fee to get it here.

The Politicians around here seem more interested in closing trails down because of enviromental concerns than what Canada is doing to our State of Michigan with their garbage.

 

They Support Landfills because as humans,we need a place to put our waste, They support Strip Mines, because as Humans we have a desire to have electricity, They support Clear cuts, because we as Humans, Need Paper products, and they support Industrial Parks, because obviously, we all need Jobs.
They support ALL OF THE ABOVE because it provides a tax base.

 

Lets not forget about how much revenue that Off Roading brings into communities either while we're discussing this TAX stuff.

The economic impact that ATVing has for each surrounding city will just blow your mind here in Michigan. Not only do we spend dollars to BUY the ATVs,we buy accessories, fuel,motel stays,resturant,and repair facilities. This amount goes well into the millions of dollars that we PACK into Michigans economy with our sport.

Far to many tree huggers dont see the value of our sport in terms of dollars/sense.

 

No doubt there are significant economic advantages to having a maintained trail sytem/riding area .
Davis West Virginia found out first hand how much money ATV and other offroaders brought in, when the Blackwater 100 race was cancelled and riding areas shut down. That one race was a large portion of their income for the year.

 

They support the rich that own the landfills, strip mines, clear cuts &
industrial parks... and then the politicians and the rich keep reminding us of
how we need all that stuff, and how it benefits the tax base, to keep us happy
and shut us up. I'm not going to sit back and watch some company making
millions on the new dump they want to put in my back yard, and be expected
to shut up and look the other way. The "we need a place to put our garbage
& it will bring lot's of jobs" is the oldest politically correct sounding BS on the
planet. It's what they don't tell you that counts! They never mention that it's
all out of state garbage going into it... because it pay's better than local
garbage. Or that maybe 3 local people will work there at best, for survival
range salaries.... Meanwhile the same slick willie preaches to us that our
ATV's are evil machines that cause environmental damage, so we better stay
off the exact same mountain where that dump is going, or we'll be fined. It's
just political brain washing. And apparently it worked on a few of us....

 

SCHMEDLAP,
I like your way of thinking. The older I get,the more I hate politicians and what most of them truly stand for. Its all about money and special interest groups today and to hell with whats really good for the moral majority of mankind.

 

I agree with your Posts for the most part. Most landfill operators/Owners I have been around have had the property handed down to them through the years, or simply want to make money. A Landfill will not harm the environment, other than the intial dirt disturbance for the cell and daily cover. Most Landfills Bring in alot of money, when You assume that an average tipping frr of 20 bucks per ton, and many bring in several thousand tons a day for the larger fills, You can understand the money we are talking about over the lifespan of a landfill.
A property Owner will obviously get multi-million dollars in revenue from running a landfil, as opposed to a few thousand for opening it up to ATV's. Sadly this is partly our fault.
If a property owner was to abandon the thoughts of building a landfill, in favor of developing the property into an ATV park for profit, then many folks who more than likely already ride on that property would feel like they shouldnt have to pay to ride on trails they had ridden on their entire life, partly negating any moneys brought in for trail maintenance, etc.
We had A park go through that down here and shut down. Several folks repeatedly accessed the trail system illegally without paying their user fees, and sadly the park went under.. Now noone is allowed to ride there.
WHat you have to remember is that You and I, as educated off-roaders, View land use differently than someone sitting in an office whos been through business school and spent most of his life in the political arena. It's up to us to change his mind.