I have spent the weekend in Mildgeville, GA at the Georgia River Network conference. It has been an amazing and inspiring experience. There are lots of post that should be coming out of the weekend.
The new leadership of Georgia River Network is smart, passionate and driven to save the 70,150 miles rivers that blanket the state. I am excited to see the direction that the Board and April will take the organization (a network). Additionally, it has been very interesting to come to understand the importance of the environmental movement in South. It is one of the few issues that can pick up the class struggle bridging rich and liberal with rural and poor, bridging all those that to fend off efforts by industry to privatize the commons and fend off efforts to exploit the commons. Environmental issues unite a majority without stirring issues that often create race driven politics. There is an amazing case to be studied in the 2003 activities of Georgia Water Conference and their heroic fight to prevent the privatization of water in the state.
One of the most thought provoking moments came from a brief conversation with Neill Herring. Neil is one of the best state lobbyist, I have ever met. Neill has been working in Georgia for 20 years watchdogging, wrestling and defending the natural resources of the state. Neill is a genius and a legislative guru. He is also a realist and experienced voice having gone toe to toe with industry tactics, old boy shenanigans and the occasional dim witted corrupt politician. Neill knows what is going on and his advise is of the highest value on politics, human nature and legislative process.
The nugget of the night was half joking and yet extremely serious.
Every Piece of Legislation is Designed to Ruin Somebody. There is no idealism involved in the legislative process. Those volunteers and lobbyists that think there is anything else involved will be confused and frustrated. The political process has nothing to do with helping people. The key to understanding how to make things happen is to figure out who wants to ruin your enemies and working with them for a moment to help them succeed.
It is an entirely new perspective of ways to build a network based on ruining your opposition. It is a case by case coalition of disgust and hatred. It is a perspective that understands the venomous snake den of politics and actually resets the minds and tactics from those of us that have focuses on reports, science and facts. Neill would be the first to say those don't matter. Years ago, I remember Neill teaching me that I will never be able to educate or enlighten a politician on any water quality issue (or anything else) when it is in their direct financial interest to remain confused.
It is a bitter and minimalist view of the process. I don't want to accept it but it hard to argue with Neill his genius, his experience or his successful results. Thankfully, Neill is a good guy working on our team.
