The Outdoors and Rural Maine (Augusta, Houlton: school, inspection, living)

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Today!

Now!

[Nor'Eastah]

What's happening in Maine regarding the environmentalists is a microcosm of what has happened, and continues to happen, all over the country. These people have an agenda. They are trying to squash business and urban sprawl. Business needs land, transportation, commodities, capital, and an employee/customer base. Business needs freedom to grow. By hampering business interests, the environmentalists are hampering our nation's economy. The urban sprawl part is nothing but hubris and snobbery. They are saying, in effect, we know better than you do, how to manage this land, which is so 'precious'; go back to the city where you belong.

I think Maine's climate has protected it naturally from a lot of sprawl, although there has definitely been some. Radical environmentalism is largely a product of idle affluence. In that sense, this economic downturn may turn out to be a good thing.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Nor'Eastah

What's happening in Maine regarding the environmentalists is a microcosm of what has happened, and continues to happen, all over the country. These people have an agenda. They are trying to squash business and urban sprawl. Business needs land, transportation, commodities, capital, and an employee/customer base. Business needs freedom to grow. By hampering business interests, the environmentalists are hampering our nation's economy. The urban sprawl part is nothing but hubris and snobbery. They are saying, in effect, we know better than you do, how to manage this land, which is so 'precious'; go back to the city where you belong.

I think Maine's climate has protected it naturally from a lot of sprawl, although there has definitely been some. Radical environmentalism is largely a product of idle affluence. In that sense, this economic downturn may turn out to be a good thing.

I agree... the longer it lasts and deeper it goes the better! This country needs a good slap in the face to wake up!

[sr1234]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I agree... the longer it lasts and deeper it goes the better! This country needs a good slap in the face to wake up!

I agree with you there.

[pc-not]

Back on the logging thread, look at the first film clip of the turn of the century guys working those logs on the water. Notice the body types? Not much excess weight on those dudes. Look at pictures of Civil war vets at reunions at any stage of their lives, either Confederate or Union. You might see one in the entire group picture that is overweight.

Now go to Walmart and look at the cross section of modern Americans. You'll most likely find several under the age of forty in the handicapped scooters. Then look what's in their basket. What's worse is how our collective minds have become soft. Can you say "government schools"?

I've believed for quite sometime that we, as a nation, are coming to our demise from within. The recent events on Wall St./ D.C. are confirmation of how quickly this is escalating.

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by pc-not

Back on the logging thread, look at the first film clip of the turn of the century guys working those logs on the water. Notice the body types? Not much excess weight on those dudes. Look at pictures of Civil war vets at reunions at any stage of their lives, either Confederate or Union. You might see one in the entire group picture that is overweight.

Now go to Walmart and look at the cross section of modern Americans. You'll most likely find several under the age of forty in the handicapped scooters. Then look what's in their basket. What's worse is how our collective minds have become soft. Can you say "government schools"?

I've believed for quite sometime that we, as a nation, are coming to our demise from within. The recent events on Wall St./ D.C. are confirmation of how quickly this is escalating.

ayup. Right before our very eyes. Sickening isn't it.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaine

ayup. Right before our very eyes. Sickening isn't it.

Hey I resemble that remark!

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Hey I resemble that remark!

Shut up. lol You do not. You're a very good looking man.

[Draconiator]

Volvo line? Never heard that term before... can anyone tell me the history of it?

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Draconiator

Volvo line? Never heard that term before...

It is a demarcation line betwixt urban and rural in Maine.

Between different attitudes and outlooks.

It is commonly thought to run East - West, dividing the State of Maine into a Northern [and godly] half, and a southern [and ungodly] half.

But in reality this line is not straight, rather it does have crooked parts. Areas where the line has been pushed further North, ever reaching toward the wonder and beauty which is Northern Maine.

Generally Southern Maine and running up along the coast a ways; is 'below' the volvo line. And one finger of the volvo line [lets call it a middle finger] protrudes or juts up toward the middle of Maine, right along the freeway. Now that one protruding finger is not real wide, say 10 miles to either side of the freeway, and up to somewhere between Bangor and Augusta it tends to stop.

Though some folks will say that they have seen the Volvo line up past Bangor, closer to Howland [along the freeway].