Perhaps most appalling is the economics of the federal logging program. We could literally create more jobs by eliminating this wasteful corporate welfare program and reduce federal spending in the process. What's more, the Forest Service's own figures show that recreation in national forests contributes over 38 times more income to the nation's economy, and creates over 31 times more jobs, than logging in national forests. It would be good for the forests, the economy, and our children and grandchildren. The timber barons get fabulously wealthy felling ancient forests on public lands at the expense of the people.
Taxpayers pay for logging road construction, clean-up costs, replanting and administrative expenses.
To show their appreciation, logging corporations shower millions of dollars upon members of Congress in the form of campaign contributions. Millions more are spent on slick advertising to mislead the public. Despite the fact that the Forest Service's own polls show that most Americans oppose logging in national forests, the ecological destruction and fiscal irresponsibility continues. The outcome will dictate what kind of national forests our children's children see in another 100 years. One hundred years is enough.