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TJ's avatar
Sep 17Edited

When somebody has too many fingers in the pie, it's because they love the taste of pie more than anything. They will do whatever it takes to get more pie. These three commissioners love the power and control more than anything, they crave it and they are getting as much as they can. Ozias is on 17 committees, which I thought was a lot, but Johnson is on 20 and French 22. Having been on boards and committees myself, I can tell you this is utterly ridiculous. They're not on this many committees because they are kind hearted people willing to do whatever it takes for the good of their community. Quite the opposite actually. They are on this many committees because they crave control and power so much they will do whatever it takes at the expense of their community to get it. These three men think they are clever enough to cloak their power hungry nature under their public image of helping the greater good—or at least their version of it, but we see them.

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Jeff Tozzer's avatar

Nailed it!

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No One Important's avatar

Could it be that skimming a few pennies from each of these board assignments is harder to account for than taking a big dip from a few? Politicians are rarely altruistic, but have found ways to enrich themselves while staying under the radar.

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TJ's avatar

As they say, "With power comes money". Or is it "With money comes power"?

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Teresa's avatar

It also comes with blackmail & coercion.

Fake power.

Let’s all read the book,

“Profiles in Courage” by JFK circa 1955.

I am reading it now.

A good lesson in civics..

… if it is truth.

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John Worthington's avatar

Scarface taught us that.

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Teresa's avatar

Word for Word!

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Teresa's avatar

Thanks for the daily local news Jeff.

In addition to the multiple boards, committees, Non-Profits, galas… ad list infinitum.

We have a bigggg problem.

Re: the 22 million Emergency Building-

Supplied with classrooms and showers.

This project is being “Lead & approved” by our County Administrator

Todd Mielke.

Yep, he is not a Project Manager.

He has various degrees in Business Management etc.

However, just as the commissioners are over extended on their stints.. so is Todd.

A project manager should be present “daily” on site to ensure operation is top notch and dealing with multiple contractors.

22 million dollars.

22 million dollars.

Todd approached me after the meeting yesterday.

He felt the “need” to mansplain how he is Qualified. (i can appreciate)

He admitted he owned an excavation company years ago-

I think it was an 8 million $ job he acquired “once”.

There was something else in there, it escapes me..

“I questioned his experience in the meeting”.

Far enough right?

We chatted for a bit-

I also received and honorary conversation with Randy Johnson.

He asked me some personal questions-

I gave him all the intel.

He seemed engaged, however they were all scurrying to get to their next “act”.

I shook all their hands, introduced myself..

& made eye contact.

Mr. French came over to speak to Todd, I interrupted & introduced myself.. shook his hand.

“Oh to be a fly on the wall”.

Ed, I am really sorry this is happening to you and your family.

We very well may be in your boat sir.

Thanks Jeff.

Stay the course-

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Jennifer's avatar

Teresa thank you for your active participation and updates. I read them religiously!

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Teresa's avatar

Sorry Jennifer-

Thank you..

I thought originally this comment came from “Jeff”.

I get messed up in the “feed” of these comments..🤦🏻‍♀️

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Denise Lapio's avatar

Good to see you yesterday, Teresa. Good comments and questions. Todd is very approachable and I'm glad he reached out to you. He's a good source of information and he's always willing to talk about anything. Randy is too. They usually stay after the meetings to engage with the public. Next week should be interesting! The big CCD vote!

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Teresa's avatar

We just need to bring them back to “human approach”.

What is BEST for the citizens of the county they “represent” and protect.

- Not how to bring Government contracting into place and smother ma and pa businesses.

This is not a California Coast.

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John Worthington's avatar

Everybody gets a little from the kitty.

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Denise Lapio's avatar

Meow, too?

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John Worthington's avatar

Back then your credits were given to “Doubtfire”..:)

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John Worthington's avatar

In the early days I recognized the people wearing their beefs on their sleeve. Rob and Virginia were ditch to piping protesters. Jeff was Towne Road. You and Pepai were not wearing a distinct beef on your sleeve that was recognizable hence the nicknames to recall you guys. Once we got further down the Towne Road follower and Jeff's people episodes I began to distinguish more of the players.

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JJW's avatar

Is this the land Amazon was interested in for distribution center by the airport?

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Teresa's avatar

i don’t know

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Denise Lapio's avatar

Yet another great article, Jeff! You were brave and accurate in your public comments. The commissioners definitely didn't like hearing their failures and misguided allegiances, but you kept up the pressure. They need to listen, not scowl and growl. It is so frustrating that tax paying residents get the brush-off when a real problem emerges. Ed and Karin have routinely asked the county leaders for help and for direction. And no answer from anyone. These people get paid to do what? Yesterday's BoCC meeting was another disappointment in leadership. Yes, Comm. Johnson asked some pertinent questions regarding the 911 emergency building with an estimated cost of $21m+, and Admin. Milke answered in detail, but we know from past experiences that the $22m+ available project funds undoubtedly won't be enough. That leaves only $1 million for uh-ohs and oh-nos. I am not assured that everything will be fine and we, the taxpayers, will be asked to fund the shortfall. I need more chocolate.

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Lawrence Martin's avatar

First thanks for the column. Its not yet 8:30 am. I have a couple of stumps to dig out with my rickety old backhoe. Hoping that tackling these old stumps and some hard physical labor will dispel my anger at these clowns. I could very well be having boiler maker with my baloney sandwich at lunch.

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Jennifer's avatar

Speechless? Yes I am. Ozias to JST to Water Management has my hair standing on end.

“Commissioner Mark Ozias has added yet another role to his long list of outside commitments: he now sits on the Dungeness River Management Team (DRMT) — the joint county/Jamestown S’Klallam body that EFFECTIVELY MANAGES EVERYTHING RELATED TO WATER IN THE SEQUIM AREA”

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Chris Clark's avatar

Very scary. Smells like tribal control over the water or are they setting up a profitable business of selling water

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Jennifer's avatar

Chris

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

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John Worthington's avatar

Its deemed essential for them culturally, and it is. but, it does not mean they can jump around on their science, and impose policy on landowners that they do not impose on themselves.

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Teresa's avatar

Ms. Hageman - Congress, asked Kash Patel (Today, under oath) what the FBI is doing to protect Tribal People, Their Land.

He assured her he was onboard with her concerns.

Maybe he should come here and explain?

I mean, wake up people.

I am sorta 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

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m b's avatar

OZIAS ALREADY HAS AN EXECUTIVE POSITION WITH VOTING PRIVILEDGES

DUNGENESSRIVERTEAM.ORG/ABOUT=US

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ANDREA L HANA's avatar

Just to clarify: "The idiom "too many fingers in the pie" refers to being involved in too many activities or tasks at once, often leading to inefficiency or lack of focus."

Actually "too many fingers in the pie" refers to a situation where there are too many people taking from the "coffers", "funding", who are involved with getting paid, or taking money/benefits from the project/department/etc.

A better expression for a situation where there are too many involved in the activities would be, "too many cooks in the kitchen".

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Denise Lapio's avatar

All idiots, oops, idioms are applicable. Thanks, Andrea, for giving us more.

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ANDREA L HANA's avatar

LOL. Yeah, I believe that there are definintely "too many fingers in the pie", or "on the take", even. ;)

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Rita Lilita's avatar

When Bill Benedict was still the elected county Sheriff I attended a meeting at which the purpose was to guide interested community members in setting up their own neighborhood watch program and discussing a proposed junk car ordinance. The meeting occurred shortly after the county spent $30k on cleanup of hoarder's property, but subsequently lost a lawsuit brought by the hoarder's son to allow his kin to reside and hoard anew. Benedict's parting advice - "if you want to be protected from junk cars, noise, unkept adjoining properties, move to a gated community."

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No One Important's avatar

It doesn't need a gated community-- a simple ordinance would do.

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Eric Fehrmann's avatar

Enforcing existing laws might be nice to try.

Remember the cartoon years ago, There Oughta Be A Law?

I think we have enough laws, but not enough enforcement.

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No One Important's avatar

AMEN!

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John Worthington's avatar

City attorney and County Prosecutor with guts.

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Susie Blake's avatar

Listening to Tuesday public comments has become my favorite activity for my Wednesday lunch break walk. This is me clapping for everyone who spoke yesterday.👏👏👏👍🙏

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Teresa's avatar

Jeff-Dude!

I am so pumped after listening to the new SONG!!!!

I am PUMPED!!!

YES YES YESSS

HEY HEY

Thank you, brilliant!

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John Worthington's avatar

Ed and Karin have been great citizens that have been loyal to the process and have been trying to get changes from the process. Man they have been waiting a long time from the process.

I have to hand it to Next door. While Jeff is fighting his Towne Road fight. I am exposing the Jimmycomelately science and being called a crackpot. The issues are related in that Hansi and the rest of the tribe knew there was a better way for the sake of water and fish, but they were determined to take "ancestral" property. I went to Next Door first and I was filtered and then booted. I met Rob and Virginia first and saw the piping business and then I saw this CCW thing going on. I ended up here and became the Towne Road Jeff Tozzer follower.

They can't negate Jeff with a street corner swastika sign so they jumped him the minute they could manipulate the government process. It was their first order of business. He stopped them at Towne Road. We stopped them at Towne Road..Stopping them from taking property on the Dungeness is going to be harder.

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Jennifer's avatar

John, that's exactly how it happened for me. I actually stumbled on CCWD and thought Jeff was a crackpot...until I researched him and what he was presenting. I still do my research, so far so good on what he presents. That's why I ask people who have negative reply's to back it up with facts. I'll listen to anyone but I need believable sources.

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Eric Fehrmann's avatar

Clallam County Commissioners are members of all these boards to promote themselves and garner votes. As most voters don’t have a clue who candidates are, they rely on these organizations to tell them who to vote for. Candidates need support of these organizations to get elected. So, who owes who after being elected.

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Dan Boldt's avatar

Yes It's how they legally buy votes.

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JJW's avatar

In my humble opinion, it is a more like a direct route for additional funding.

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Billy T Wilson's avatar

"I am not sure what to tell this gentleman but I sure don't want it to be "tough luck." Thank

you in advance for your thoughts and advice."

"...tough luck..." Ozias you POS! You slimy worm.

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Timothy Weller's avatar

Be careful of your thoughts, for they become your actions; be careful of your actions, for they become your character. When people show you who they are, believe them, as such.

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John Worthington's avatar

My name is John and I am a crackpot. oops.

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Jennifer's avatar

John, I thought you were a wackadoodle? I'm so confused : )

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John Worthington's avatar

I got two labels..

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John Worthington's avatar

That’s the Port Angeles label.

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Denise Lapio's avatar

Oops, John, you weren't supposed to tell anyone.

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Jennifer's avatar

Denise, he broke his anonymity. He gets a FREE PIZZA!

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Billy T Wilson's avatar

I wasn't threatening him, I simply detest him.

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Timothy Weller's avatar

I believe you mistook my intent, Billy. I was referring to Ozias, et, al.

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Billy T Wilson's avatar

Corrected, thank you.

But yes Ozias' partisan decisions create a terrible impression.

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No One Important's avatar

Gee, there seems to be as many board assignments as there are citizens in Clallam County, yet few seem represented. Why is that? (Asking for a friend).

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Dear Friend; no one has challenged the status whoa. So we get this self serving, over paid, bloated with ego and special agendas! Maybe an enforceable code of ethics should exist!

Thank you Jeff.

Limit the paid by us, political scum bags to 2 or 3 board appointments, only if the don’t get county funds. Bet that would rock their tiny little hearts ( three sizes too small)Can anyone justify why CCC get a full salary but must be absent from their paid job to kiss the A****

of the others they serve? Do we know if the three stooges get

compensation from any of the 17-20 boards they serve on?

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

In the county statues, taken from the State of Washington, there is no limit to the number of boards a commissioner sits on.

Here’s the biggie, commissioners may not hold positions that are in direct conflict with the job of commissioner or that favors financially by the commissioner , due to his appropriations of funds to that entity.

Apparently, commissioners must report that they could directly benefit (financially) the board they are sitting on and must resign. There can be no overlap between commissioners county responsibility and that of a NGO relying on funds overseen and/or directed by a county commissioner knowingly. I don’t know that we need a new code of ethics , the one on the books for Wa. state with county charters and commissioner is very clear with the expectations. So clear that all three commissioners have violated those rules and should recluse themselves ASAP.

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No One Important's avatar

I believe that they took the teeth out of the ethics rules, so they can egregiously violate them with impunity.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Yes it’s a good gig if you can get it, and then change the rules. So the ethics rules lost their teeth.

That’s a nice way to put it. My vocabulary is running wild.

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Geoff Fox's avatar

Do you remember the TV series Fargo? The one series where one group that hated the sheriff, got some guys to change their name to the same name as the sheriff and come to the political debate. To rephrase this scene: "Hi my name is Mark Ozias. " Candidate #2 "your name - "I'm Mark Ozias" and Candidate #3 - "My name is Mark Ozias." And that is the way all appeared on the ballot. Divide and conquer.

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Jennifer's avatar

Geoff

Do you remember What's My Line?

What's My Line was a panel game show. Four panelists must determine guests' occupations

Unfortunately, in our case, this isn’t a game, the panelists are the public who can't figure out the "3 Emperors" true occupation.

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Eric Fehrmann's avatar

Commissioners Johnson, French & Ozias, alias, Dewey, Cheatem & Howe

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AFB's avatar

Ha! That's my Husband's favorite joke:)

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No One Important's avatar

Self Enrichment Specialists.

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Jennifer's avatar

NOI

PIZZA PUSHERS It's all about the toppings! : )

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Geoff Fox's avatar

That could be due to the fact that the 3 Emperors think/believe that the panel (Clallam County taxpayers and voters) are all blindfolded, plus all the panel is unable to hear, plus they, the panel, cannot and are unable to sniff out their stench. Marc Antony said it so well, "the evil that men do lives after... "You are There" This is Walter Cronkite reporting live from Sequim WA. "Marc Antony started his oration and couldn't remember the rest of the line when it came to the eulogy for the 3 Emperors after all 3 lost their re-election bids." Phil and Don, the Everly Brothers will now sing "All I do is dream".

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No One Important's avatar

Like the Bob Fergusons running for governor, until AG Ferguson threatened lawsuits?

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Waiting for the day when there is no Ozias! What is the wait time, now? Feels like he has pasted his

“Best Used By Date 9-2022.” Toss him in with the rest of the compost. Warning: compost may turn into green slime and will become unsafe for observers, children and pests.

Save the cockroaches for an open BOCCC seat at the table. Roaches know stuff, lots of stuff.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Pasted? What the hell, I did not write that! Some bitch lives in my phone and is always doing this crap. Im not imagining this. Well golly, look at the time I’m posting.

Many very smart people were night owls and unfortunately died young.

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Geoff Fox's avatar

Do you see anyone emerging as a candidate to run against Ozias? French? Johnson?

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Jeff would you run?

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Geoff Fox's avatar

No. Too many ageing issues.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

I love that everyday the commissioners are older too!

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Don Beeman's avatar

There are no treaty rights to water in the Point No Point Treaty. All rights were ceded, but fishing rights were granted. I have been informed that the water rights the tribes now claim are judicial creations derived from the Boldt Decision.

In it for the long haul? Roe was foisted upon us in 1973. Boldt in 1974. Roe was bad law. So is Boldt. If one can be reversed, so can the other, which would make any judge made water rights based upon Boldt “poisoned fruit.”

Aside: Roe was a curious choice to name an abortion case if you are a fisherman. Since Roe and Boldt, more dead and unborn babies and fish.

So far, I have three parts finished. There’s at least one more on travesty. Haven’t even approached the tragedy part yet.

The Travesty And Tragedy That Is The Boldt Decision, Part 1

Judge Boldt stacked the deck to get the outcome he desired. I leave it to you to ponder his motive(s). Central to his finding were: (1). The Indians negotiating the treaty were an "unlettered people." Primitive and dependant were also used. (2). The language barrier was unfair. English, which was "unknown to most of the tribal representatives," was used. Translations were "by an interpreter in the service of the United States using Chinook Jargon, which was also unknown to some tribal representatives. Having only about three hundred words in its vocabulary, the Jargon was capable of conveying only rudimentary concepts, but not the sophisticated or implied meaning of treaty provisions about which highly learned jurists and scholars differ."

However, in 1974, the only words in dispute in any treaty provision for Boldt really were "in common." Boldt wrote, "There is no indication that the Indians intended or understood the language "in common with all citizens of the Territory" to limit their right to fish in any way." From other case law, he extracted,(from which I extracted) "... the negotiations for the treaty are conducted, on the part of the United States, an enlightened and powerful nation, by representatives skilled in diplomacy, masters of a written language, understanding the modes and forms of creating the various technical estates known to their law, ..."

The concept of "the commons" is the "sophisticated or implied meaning" and "various technical estates" of concern to Boldt.

Seems to me the concept of The Common was developed by primitive unlettered people that weren't dependent on enlightened nations, representatives skilled in diplomacy, masters of a written language, or understanding modes and forms of creating various technical estates. The Common is an essential part of any group any time in the history of man. When the first people gathered around a fire to cook, share and exchange their food and stories of the hunt and the days adventures, to find a mate, to make friends, etc., there was a common, and there were rules of behavior for all.

Even children understand the concept. They know the difference between mom and dad's bedroom and the kitchen on one hand and the bath, dining, family, and living rooms on the other. When they first are on the playground at school, they learn to share the slide, merry-go-round, and swings in common with the other children. They quickly learn the common has rules. (Did I just uncover the real reason why playgrounds can't have such wonderful things anymore?). Are such children lettered?

The limitations of the Chinook language are too important to Boldt. He does not mention sign language. Have you ever played "Charades" or just watched others. Lots of information can be conveyed. How hard is it to point at everyone present for the treaty and make a big sweeping inclusive motion? Many Indians had seen explorers' ships and even the explorers since 1805 when Lewis and Clark came as far as Astoria. A fort was built there in 1813. There were numerous settlers in Seattle, Olympia, and probably elsewhere years before the treaty was signed in 1855. How much English did some Indians already know? I suspect more than Boldt and the plaintifs want us to believe.

Surely, the Indians must have recognized the fact that the reservation was their designated common area just for them. Shouldn't that make it obvious to them that the rest was the common area for everyone else and them? How difficult is that to see? It follows naturally and logically. I don't see the Indians as so primitive that this would be difficult for them.

Indians always talk about how their elders are wise and how much they honor and respect them. Yet, some 120 years after the signing, some unhappy tribal members were willing and anxious to throw their ancestors under the bus, and Judge Boldt swallowed.

Article 10 of the Point No Point Treaty makes a lie of the whole case. The tribes were desirous of alcohol prohibition on the reservations. This is all the evidence needed to conclude they knew what The Common was and it needed rules to protect it.

Article 9 also has something about The Common shared by all. Two rules for the Indians when on the joint commons: be friendly and respect property.

End of Part 1.

Please, read Boldt for yourself. Spread the word.

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John Worthington's avatar

Its a little tricky but...where is our half? That isn't tricky. Yah yah yah Where is our half?

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Jennifer's avatar

John, they are waiting to be voted in. So far I'm voting for Mimi and James Taylor. They are, by far, fighting for us.

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Randy Walterson's avatar

White ash and chard nettles falling from the sky at 1900’ .

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Randy Walterson's avatar

The only time I gambled was when I was drunk on Alcohol .

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Kristin's avatar

Truly amazing is how blatant they are about their corruption. Maybe we are paying more attention due to Jeff and others but it is fricking crazy!

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