Magic Frank plumbs new depths of factual inaccuracy

by: Eric B.

Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 00:41:56 AM EST

Here is the thing about arrogance. Arrogance as a flaw is a good deal easier to deal with if the person who suffers from it has in some way demonstrated that they are worthy. That is, a person who regularly and routinely delivers high-quality work may affect some small amount of arrogance and get away with it, because ... well, it's a perk of routinely delivering excellence.

Then, we have Magic Frank.

It was once easy to dismiss the so-called tree huggers as amusing annoyances, but their long-term goals have grown more threatening -- and damaging -- to the progress of mankind.  

Magic Frank goes on to list some of the great crimes committed against humanity by "so-called tree huggers" in a way that is not only nearly Joe Falls-like in its stream of conscience essence, but almost nearly entirely built on factual errors. Here is the one fact that Magic Frank managed to get correct in his Friday column:

We start with the issue that got him rolling.

The council and an interagency task force have talked about "marine spatial planning," which is enviro-speak for prohibiting or restricting fishing in the Great Lakes and even inland waters. The government already restricts summer flounder fishing in New Jersey and New York that drew lawsuits by state government accusing the feds of engaging in bad science and damaging the fishing industry.

I am not sure who drew the short straw as Magic Frank's copy editor this week, but based on the second sentence, it does not appear that they were terribly interested in the work. Perhaps it took so long to unpack the preceding sentence that no energy was left to fix it. And, about that first sentence ... marine spatial planning is "enviro-speak" for destroying the fishing industry. You may be tempted, as Magic Frank apparently was not, to do a quick Google search to find out what it is. I mean, you could break down the words to deduce the overall concept as planning of marine spaces. However, let us go get our definition from the very same Feds who Magic Frank say are going to come in and close down the fishing industry.

Effective marine spatial planning has three essential attributes. They are:

• Multi-objective. Marine spatial planning balances ecological, social, economic, and governance objectives.
• Spatially focused. The ocean area to be managed must be clearly defined and large enough to incorporate relevant ecosystem processes.
• Integrated. The planning process should address the interrelationships and interdependence of each component within the defined management area, including natural processes, activities, and authorities.

In short, it is comprehensive planning to allow for ecosystem health while balancing several different human uses. Ecosystem health, by the way, is critical to ensuring that the human uses can continue for years and years ... you know, making sure that there are fish for the sportfishing industry for as long as possible. And, while Magic Frank may be concerned about federal limits on summer flounder catches, anyone who has purchased a fishing license anytime in living memory understands that the state already limits catches for purposes very nearly along these lines.

Eventually, Magic Frank wanders off these lines and veers straight into recycling rightwing tropes and junk science.