In a March 27 Op-Ed, Annette Lathrop charges Trail advocates of deceit and manipulation. We challenge her to support these claims.

What are the specific “partial truths, half-truths and untruths”? What are her opposing arguments and supporting evidence?

She claims: “Tens of thousands of dollars in grant money has allowed the hiring of a slew of professionals to produce this application.” Specifically, how has this resulted in a flawed application?

The “conflict…of a powerful group pushing a recreational trail vs. hard working local agricultural producers, long term county residents with a record of supporting the community” is a false dichotomy. We are a cooperative, interwoven and interdependent community, not a war zone.

If Joseph Branch Trail Consortium “cherry picked” data to produce an “illusion of massive public support,” provide data that this is not true.

The author resents funds for the Trail come from grants and tax dollars. How are non-agricultural workers supposed to view taxes that support farm subsidies? In a pluralistic society, none of us has the luxury of providing taxes only to select organizations that personally benefit us.

Finally, “JBTC does not understand nor value our agricultural lifestyle, setting up an unhealthy county dynamic.” Another false dichotomy. Those of us not directly involved in farming can still understand and value agriculture practices; this is one reason many of us moved here! To suggest the trail will bring the end of agriculture in Wallowa County borders on an unhealthy delusion that should be called out for what it is.

Terry and Ron Polk

Lostine