Olympia anti-biomass activists recently organized a protest at the ORCAA offices in conjunction with the global warming conference in Cancun, Mexico. It was a typical dreary late fall - early winter day and it is estimated about ten people attended.
Unfortunately, it is thought that the night before someone thoughtlessly vandalized the ORCAA offices, gluing the doors closed and throwing a brick through a window. This was reported in the Olympian and more recently, in the Shelton Mason County Journal. Apparently it was a slow news day as it was picked up by the AP and reported in the Seattle media as well. It now appears that no one is willing to admit who came up with blaming the citizens from Mason County. The story in the Olympian attributes the accusations to the PR person from ORCAA. The PR person from ORCAA attributes the accusation to the Olympia Police Department.
The citizens of Mason County, who have been playing by the rules and strictly following the law, wish these folks would get it together and stop their silly unfounded accusations. It is understandable that the Olympia Police would try to ascertain who might be responsible, but wouldn't it make sense to ask who might do such a thing and who might benefit? Surely the over 50 crowd from Mason County hasn't acted in an unlawful manner. The Mason County opponents to biomass are in the over 50 year old, employed, professional, business and land owning, retired age group. They've hired lawyers and sought to address their concerns through legal means. They certainly do not fit the "vandal" profile. So what's the deal?
We wonder, might the politicians and interested parties be using this as an opportunity to turn this idiocy in their favor like they did before? We have already had unsubstantiated allegations made by a Mason County Commissioner. We understand politics. But everyone should know that shooting from the hip is a dangerous game. Playing fast and loose with accusations is ripe territory for a parody. As such the citizens have some suggestions as to who might actually benefit from the negative PR of some idiot vandalizing the ORCAA offices.
The Citizens want to make a few simple statements. We would NEVER be SO STUPID as to vandalize anything. WE have had our vehicles vandalized and had threats made against us. We don't like it and we would never do it to someone else. We have and will continue to act lawfully through legal protests, government channels and the courts. We DO NOT take our reputations lightly. Accordingly, we provide information and evidence from disinterested expert third parties like the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the United States EPA, the World Health Organization and various medical associations. We have lives, jobs, businesses and reputations to protect. Unlike some of our local politicians, we value our credibility.
So who might benefit from the public relations and playing fast and loose with absurd allegations? We'll leave it to the readers with a little common sense to decide.
Since only ten people attended the protest, if the Olympia Police suspect those who attended, it's a pretty short list. The list might also include other people that might frequent the ORCAA offices. The fast and loose crowd might look into some of these people.
In the interest of humor we suggest the suspicious looking characters pictured above. It looks like they've been playing with glue and those hardhats would protect them from a stray brick.
