Ron Iverson in Fargo?

My opinions on the NR issue aside. As a young college student you are outside the inner network of most political circles. Responses will often be "staff generated".

They (most politicians) listen mostly to friends and peers. Those who have money or supply money to support their elections can infiltrate the inner network rather quickly. Younger voters are too often ignored due to lack of power or belief that they are in general apathetic to politics.

If you do not like this then :

1) Make sure you vote and vote again to correct your "mistake" next time around.

2) Major in political science or find a friend with that major. Get on these representitives' staffs and try get your opinion heard from the inside.

3) Join and protest in mass with general public (SA)

4) Graduate from college. Become successful in your career. Run for office or support a friend running for office. Push through your agenda.

Do not become overly disenchanted with the system. Just the way things work. By all means use your spare energy to fight for what you believe in.

On the negative side, remember if we go to war - it will be the 18 - 24 year old men dying in the desert, not the 40+ somethings setting the agenda.

PH and I are going to find something else to disagree on here. ND legislators have no "staffers". Their lap top computers are their staff.

Because of this, ND legislators (all branches for that matter) are more accessible than in virtually any other state. In ND, grass roots politics is truly still possible. It matters when people show up at the hearings and when they contact their legislators. Some legislators have said they consider it a "mandate" when they get emails or calls from 15 of their contituents (each has about 10,000 constituents) on a particular issue.

That's why in the hunting debates it's so vitally important that every sportsperson get engaged and do something, even if only emailing your three legislators. It works and is effective here in ND. You do not need to be a heavy contributor or have a lobbyist to translate your opinions into actual results.

Also, I can't think of a better group of folks to jump in this debate than the youth, even high school students. The hunting and many other current political debates seem to be heavily influenced by "the future of ND" overtones and efforts to retain our youth. If our youth tell our legislators how important a quality outdoors is to them and that their residence decisions hinge on what happens to the outdoors, it will be an effective message.

Everyone, get involved! First step, as we've said, is to sign into the "etree" that will keep you up to date during the session:

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/signup.html

When you get to be 50 & have played some of the games you can be cynical - But until then we need the younger folks (under 30) to be the movers & shakers & dreamers & do-ers

PH the next few weeks could be tense & alot of info will be shared & questions asked & answered. I'm not sure we need your opinions, for awhile :roll: Try not to confuse things - or step on too many, or the wrong toes OK ??? - (I sure could have phrased that in a different tone & selection of words, if you need me to ???) No one is mad yet, but this is really important to us & everyone. (weather they know it or not) I can see the hunting community building in it's interest, in all this, as many realilize what is happening. I / we know you know the issues from your perspectives. But I'd rather not have to RIP on anyone, unless they really have it coming. ( for awhile) :wink: So please remember where you are & what we basically think. Your still to much on the fence on alot of this. So just a reminder that tensions may be rising. eace: -> (???) I hope you get my drift !!! Try to cool it - Please !

FH: I am fully aware of the youth re-recruitment effort in ND. I read the articles and heard some debates on everyone's favorite talk radio show in ND. Not sure if that is the way to go.

Decoyer: Do not become overly disenchanted with the system. Just the way things work. By all means use your spare energy to fight for what you believe in. What I said in post above.

Fetch: I hate politicians more than I hate guides and outfitters. At least you know where guides stand. A politician may change their mind three times in three days and no one will no why. (idealism, $$, dinner out, ??) Like the younger guys above I am very frustrated by politicians. Sorry if I hurt a few younger guys feelings - my frustration too was showing here.

Dan: Many ND representitives do have small volunteer staffs and certainly have election teams. I was on one 20 years ago. I know a guy in college that worked in Bismarck during the 83 session.

So my response to Dan's PM will be repeated here:
In my opinion the real, true, and maybe the only threat to ND hunting heritage is outfitters, pay hunting, and leasing.
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By the way I am very pro youth and youth hunting.

One of my nephews will be at NDSU soon too. He will likely chose a major that will eventually allow him to live in ND. Good for him.

I have written several posts on this site discussing my frustrations of organized activities scheduled on weekends (class B football, 4H, etc...) and how this prevents many teenagers from hunting at all. When I played sports in ND, only playoffs were scheduled on weekends.

Maybe there should be a ND state law preventing organized state sponsored activities on opening duck, pheasant, and deer weekends to let kids hunt too. When asked to chose - hunting has to suffer in favor of the else.

In my hunting reports I have talked about how I do not fire a shot unless we are trying to anchor a crippled bird. Let the kids (all ND kids so far, mine are too young) get their fill first. I have also written about spending the middle of my Saturday hunting trip watching a Class B football game. Actually paid off once when a farmer gave us a bird tip during the game.

I am coach, I am a parent. I worry how my kids will get the time let alone the opportunity to hunt. Started the process at Christmas, oldest got a BB gun.

Maybe that is PETAs new agenda. Make so many activities mandatory on weekends that kids no longer have the opp to hunt.

Many young people that really get hooked on Hunting, have to choose around Middle school. (or even younger now) Especially if family & friends are Hooked on & travel & partake of all the opportunities to hunt.

My son did - could have been a very good Hockey player & football player - But Hunting is a Lifelong sport. I doubt he would trade all we did ???

Plus team sports nowdays - only the better kids get to play, or the ones with connections & parents that push & politic to get & keep them noticed. Not to mention all the camps & off season stuff :roll: They act like HS sports are like Pro sports in the 60's :roll:

To be honest with you if ND wants to save money (in the bigger towns) - they should quit the nonsense & have better competitive intermural sports. A town like GF has 2 footbal & 2 basketball teams (& what 40 or 50 kids get to participate in Football, on each team & maybe 20 or less in Basketball ???) I was from a class B town that had around 100 kids in HS & we had a good team 1 year out of 30 ??? But we tried hard & had Fun. But all games were Friday afternoon.

I think this is a whole new topic

But then again if Hunting continues where it has been going in recent years - I don't know if I'd reccomend getting Hooked on it either :roll:

I wrote to my three legislators and have corresponded with one of them twice. He happens to be the youngest of the three.

I encourage everyone to open those channels of communication.

My $0.02 - It seems odd to me that everyone is seeking a compromise. A compromise is when two parties each give in a little. Improving access for hunting is a win for everyone. :beer:

I watched some of the Saving North Dakota special tonight and there was some talk of Quality of Life vs. higher wage tradeoffs. I hope that the leadership in our state legislature realizes how many young ND residents are staying and contributing in ND largely because of our quality of outdoor experience. I predict that if the access issue continues on the trend it is currently on that many young ND residents will move on in search of what we once had here in ND. Maybe Montana or Alaska?

Let's all be sure to keep that from happening by contacting your legislators and briefly tell them what you as a resident of their district want to happen.