This Week in the Mercury

Shaking Behind the Scenes

News

Shaking Behind the Scenes

City Quake Tour Dances Around Fears Over Portland's Harbor Wall—and Bridges


From the Top

Music

From the Top

Hitchin' a Ride with Here We Go Magic



  |  

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Green Smokey and Woodsy Under House GOP Fire

Posted by Alex Zielinski on Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 1:29 PM

Your two favorite woodland creatures who dually prevent enviro-atrocities and make childhood lessons bearable are on the political chopping block. Yes, Smokey the Bear and Woodsy the Owl have been placed on the endangered list thanks to the House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's new "YouCut" program.

YouCut welcomes the public to offer ideas as to where significant budget cuts can be made in federal spending. The Forest Service’s “environmental literacy” and “conservation education” programs — Smokey and Woodsy's home sweet home — made the list. Cantor supported this cut, saying that it’s wrong for taxpayer dollars to go to “generate issue-oriented advocacy.” Additionally, cutting this program would save $50 million over 10 years.

What Cantor forgot to mention, however, was how many children will lose interest in nature and the environment (which, believe it or not, does have a considerable impact on the world) if this sector is nixed.

Give a hoot, America.


 

Comments (11) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
I was oddly obsessed with the Smokey the Bear comics as a kid. Probably because I was a deprived hippy child forced to enjoy un-coloring books with no lines.

In any case, I don't remember him being very lefty. Mostly telling me not to throw a burning cigarette in the woods.
Posted by catbot on December 13, 2011 at 1:41 PM · Report
2
I'm actually in favor of privatizing Smokey & Woodsy, in that I'm sure they could generate more than 50 million by starring in a buddy cop action comedy together.
Posted by atomic on December 13, 2011 at 1:56 PM · Report
3
Atomic for COTW.
Posted by Reymont on December 13, 2011 at 2:01 PM · Report
4
"how many children will loose interest"

It's spelled "lose". Sorry to be johnny-corrects-a-lot, but that error is all over the interwebs and is like fingernails on the chalkboard to me.
Posted by Blabby on December 13, 2011 at 3:45 PM · Report
5
Am loosing my mind over this ;).

Am afraid of owls so its ok with me if they privatize this thing. Even though trough legacy I have received 2 paperweight shaped Owls which I keep in my Caoba and Oak furnished studio.
Posted by Leaky on December 13, 2011 at 4:19 PM · Report
6
@Atomic, put a bandit mask on the bird and we have a fairly reasonable shot at pitching a Smokey and the Bandit remake.
Posted by Fruit Cup on December 13, 2011 at 4:28 PM · Report
7
Well, Woodsy Owl did steal Mr. Mackey's innocence.

Also, Atomic for COTW.
Posted by ($8239f8h248cerfehjf23@&*@ebdjhb23f237OCDBO#BD*(# on December 13, 2011 at 4:37 PM · Report
8
There’s no fucking “the” in Smoky Bear’s name. I’m calling my senator about these dirty lies from the Mercury.
Posted by reid.parham on December 13, 2011 at 6:08 PM · Report
9
Awww, hell.
Posted by reid.parham on December 13, 2011 at 6:10 PM · Report
10
Smokey the bear is a propaganda pushing hack. Forest fires are a naturally occurring process. They get MUCH worse when we clearcut the forest and it grows back all spindly, with every tree the same age. If that clown really wanted to save the forest, he would be teaching kids that the Forest Service and the BLM are the real bad guys, not Jo Shmo with a campfire.
Posted by ntrecek on December 13, 2011 at 7:51 PM · Report
11
Woodsy's hat was embarrassingly gauche even for 1977. On the plus side, he was clearly the inspiration for "Nite Owl" in WATCHMEN, though I doubt he's ever seen a dime.
Posted by Todd Mecklem on December 13, 2011 at 8:06 PM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use