William Henry Vanderbilt in 1882 said, “The public be damned!” and his statement has apparently become the rallying cry of our Republican legislators.

Remember the Luna laws that were dumped on our school districts several years ago? The public rebelled and overturned every one. The Legislature responded by overturning the initiative and reinstating portions of the Luna laws. In addition, they made it difficult for the public to launch any more initiatives.

Our district is represented by a couple of freshmen that claim to be concerned about school funding without raising taxes; just economize. But whatever else, just stay away from taxing the top 1 percent. Perhaps increase the sales and other taxes instead.

Another GOP favorite cause is to return federal lands to the state. However, they conveniently forget that those federal lands never belonged to the state. But in their attempt to privatize everything, they are determined to grab the lands. Then they can clear-cut the forests without being regulated by the hated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

They also forget that many private lands were once clear-cut and left to erode, becoming useless, and eventually becoming the property of the federal government. Perhaps one day the public will refuse to be damned any longer.

Joseph Henry Wythe

Sandpoint