Third-Party Candidates Paying Attention

When it comes to Northwest issues, third-party presidential candidates are paying a lot more attention than the Republicans or Democrats.

But Green Party candidate Ralph Nader and Libertarian Harry Browne probably couldn’t be farther apart on those issues and still be running for the same office in the same country.

In their move to abolish the federal income tax and severely cut back the federal government, Browne and the Libertarians would do away with many of the agencies that govern the Northwest’s natural resource issues. He’d abolish the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and the rest of the Department of Agriculture. He’d eliminate all farm programs, and either sell off national forest lands or open them up for homesteading.

He’d also sell off federal dams and national parks.

Browne would abolish the Department of Energy, and unlike Republican Bob Dole, wouldn’t transfer any of its functions to any other federal department. Nuclear energy would become strictly a private-sector matter, and the costs of cleanup for nuclear and other dangerous wastes would be settled by the courts.

Nader and the Greens would phase out nuclear power and stop any plans for new hydroelectric dams, spending money instead for research into alternative sources of energy that don’t use those sources or fossil fuels.

The Greens oppose the export of logs from federal lands, and would dramatically decrease the timber harvests in favor of alternatives to wood pulp. One of their alternatives would be hemp.

Their platform supports “social ownership and use of land.” Private property should be managed under “covenants of social responsibility.” They oppose clear-cutting of any forest, and would ban cutting in ancient forests or “other significant native forests.”

The Natural Law Party, headed by John Hagelin, has some views similar to the Green Party on environmental issues. They would place a moratorium on timber harvests in the national forests. They believe nuclear waste cleanup should focus on technology that turns radioactive residues to glass for safer storage.

Ross Perot’s Reform Party, like the Democrats and Republicans, sticks with broad national themes. While they call for a balanced budget, honest officials and fairer campaigns, the party and Perot do not offer details in their speeches or statements about regional issues.

, DataTimes