Environmentalists spin McCarthyism.

• Position: From the Publisher - Column

Recently one of the mavens of environmental activism commented that unless one agreed with conservationist points of view, that holding them responsible for their remarks or positions, and to discuss it publicly, was the same as McCarthyism.

For those who may not know or cannot remember, (it was more than 50 years ago) "McCarthyism" was one of the low points in our recent political history. A U. S. senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, dominated the early 1950s by his sensational but never proven charges of communist subversion in high circles of federal government and among Hollywood actors and screenwriters, ruining both political and acting careers. Fellow senators officially censured him for unbecoming conduct in 1954, thus ending his political career, and McCarthyism.

To suggest that expressing views differing from theirs by those who have the fortitude to call attention to environmentalist tactics is akin to McCarthyism is a shameful overstatement of the facts. But then, that's what they do best, overstate facts and blur issues.

TURNING THEIR OTHER CHEEKS

It is quite important to note the subtle changes now taking place in the spin being put on environmentalist propaganda as they seek to control Alaska. First, money to force change in Alaska's economic future is pouring into the state by the hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars from Outside sources. This is not news.

But what to take note of is the way in which words are used. Beware of the environmentalist who says, "We really have no difficulty with others who may have differing views from us. Can't we just sit down and talk things over?"

Right. And talk they will, for several months or years, delaying...