Nobody asked me but….

In addition to probably four or five issues that I see as important in the upcoming election cycle, some local some national, of course Battlefield Preservation is on my list.  And there are several things that irk me as to how preservation is played as a national issue.   I just don’t think any candidate, local, state, or federal, really sees preservation as something in their interest. 

First, why is it in our green-conscious rhetoric, never to I hear the point mentioned that preservation is “green” – both dollars-wise and environmentally.  Preservation means green space.  It means retention of existing habitats.  It means less sprawl.  Seems to me, if your political platform is tied to reducing carbon emissions, putting the stake through the heart of a proposed “dirty, filthy, polluting” power plant, that happens to be next to a battlefield, would hit several tones that play well in the media.  What I’d love to hear on a robo-call, “Hi, I’m <candidate’s name>, and I oppose the big power plant not only because of my concerns for our environment but also because it encroaches upon our national heritage.  So if elected…..” 

Second, off let’s talk about Eminent Domain.  If the courts have upheld the concept that a trailer park may be taken over (“seized” in my definition) by the government for the purposes of building a Wal Mart, condominium, or a nuke plant, then why cannot the government take over a tract of land for the purposes of preservation?  Not so much a question of is it right or wrong, but rather why is this technique not used with regard to clear and present dangers to the battlefields?  Personally this is shaky ground, as I am not really fond of government possessing the unchecked power to “steal” property.  However, I’m just curious why there are few if any cases where Eminent Domain is mentioned in regard to preservation efforts. 

Third, how about a drawing that linkage between preservation, heritage, and education?  Questions regarding the reform of our education system are all in the news.  Why not point out that preservation is an enabler to good education!  How can our history and heritage be taught in school if it is disappearing under the pavers?  I’d love to see some candidate connect those dots and make that part of the plan.  

But before I start sounding like Mussolini letting fly from the balcony, I’ll avoid mentioning taxes and government spending.  The bottom line is, I just wonder why no politician has seized upon the preservation issue as a plank in the platform. 

- Marker Hunter,  and sometimes agitator for more preserved battlefields where even more interpretive markers should be planted…..