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One of the things we have learned from the presidential election that may forever be characterized as Indecision 2000 is that Americans are deeply divided on a great many issues---not just who should be president.
Controversy, differences of opinion and downright contrariness are common in public life and government service. In fact, debate and agitation typically produce more responsive government and better management decisions.
Like most government agencies, we get our share of public scrutiny at the DNR. Frequently, we invite it through public meetings and hearings. Sometimes people call into question something we did, or something we didn't do.
Whenever possible, the DNR tries to bring people together. More often than not, developing consensus on important issues results in good public policy and decisions that most people support.
People are very serious about Indiana's natural and cultural resources, and they aren't shy about expressing opinions. Sometimes feelings are so strong---viewpoints are so different---that developing consensus isn't very likely.
Normal controversies come and go every year, involving things like floodway construction permits and a variety of agency rules and regulations. But this past year was anything but normal.
Shortly after the DNR added some land to a fish and wildlife area, a board of county commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of private property to government agencies until a 12-month review and comment period is completed and the sale is approved by the commissioners.
In the tiny Porter County community of Beverly Shores, people rushed to take opposing sides on a proposal to conduct birth control experiments on white-tailed deer.
Further south, trees were spiked in state forests and logging equipment was damaged because a small, clandestine group doesn't like the DNR's century-long forest management practices.
And, of course, there were all those news stories about fish.
These were just some of the divisive issues of the past year. As the days and weeks past I found myself turning to some philosophers who said something important to many of us a long time ago...
You say yes, I say no. You say stop, I say go. Time after time you refuse to even listen. Your lips are moving, I cannot hear. Life is much too short for fussing and fighting my friend. We can work it out. All you need is love. Then you begin to make it better.
Of course, I'm not suggesting that there will be an end to conflicts or the me-first mentality if we all sit together and listen to some 30-year-old Beatles tunes. But if most folks embraced some common themes of the music---love, understanding and peace---we might disagree a little less often, and I imagine we would get along a little better as we travel down the long and winding road.
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Stephen Sellers, editor
