I was trained to be a park "ranger / naturalist" so yes, I do know a bit about forrest management.

As far as strip mining, I feel that human life is more important than eye-appeal. I do not want miners to have to go down dangerous deep shafts like the "bad old days". One reason people have to look at strip mines is that houses were built near them because that is where the jobs are.

Coal supplies over 50% of the US electricity. I have been beating the drum for alternative energy for my entire adult life. Same for my anti-polution stand. One political party is not solely responsible for our dependence on strip-mined coal. Please show us what magnificent plan Bill Clinton introduced in his eight years to fix this problem. Actually, show us any plan Clinton had to fix any problem.