Priceless To Some, Too Pricey For Others

In “The Rough Rider” (Nov. 26), Barry Siegel portrays forest ranger Guy Pence as having passion for preserving public lands. It’s too bad Pence doesn’t have compassion for the people who live and make a living on public lands. Pence seems to be having a hard time adjusting to his new desk job in Idaho. But at least he is working for the same employer. A lot of ranchers, miners and lumbermen have not been so lucky. Because of the new government policies and regulations, they must find work in other locations with new employers.

The real issue is the inequity of what a few of us must pay for preserving public lands. Because of U.S. Forest Service regulations, my family does not have access to a parcel of our private property that falls within national forest boundaries. Individuals like us are paying a lot more for “preserving public lands” than the average U.S. citizen who donates a few dollars to environmental groups. Is this fair? I don’t think it is. I want to preserve public lands too, but why does my family have to pay a much higher price than most U.S. citizens?

Cynthia Buckner

San Gabriel

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Guy Pence is not such a hero. Quite the contrary. He’s just a regular guy with guts doing a good job, and we are all recipients of his integrity and conscientiousness. He is the federal government doing it right. Now that’s heroic.

Xerro Ryan Covarrubias

Los Angeles