Idaho Activist Takes Heat Over Klamath Falls Petition
J.J. Johnson - Sierra Times
July 10, 2001

Jeff Head is a Constitutional activist and founder of the 50 Million Round March. Although his petition for action gained over 2000 signatures in less than 24 hours, he has taken some heat over his political stance in the Klamath Falls water battle.

"What can I say", said Head in a telephone interview today with Sierra Times. "I have talked with many people over there. My advise to them, all over their message board, was to take a peaceful but hard stand and get the water to the farmers and their fields ASAP - asking the Sheriff for his support."

Head believes that symbolic acts are only going to spend their time and cause the farmers to be ruined "while the little Federal and bureaucratic tyrants laugh at them." With an e-mail list with well over 1000 names, Head claims he could get a large numbers of persons to Klamath Falls to do more than just open the gates, but to bring water to the farmers as well. "If we could get a number of people there, we could ride and check the irrigation ditches and diversion gates in the system to make sure it was ready for water, then open the gates, and instead of letting it run back into the river, let it run out to the farmers fields where it could do some good, while people stood watch at the flood gates. "

Jeff Head admits the plan is risky, "…but our liberties and their livelihood and way of life better be worth some risks and these tyrants better see it, or we will lose."

Still for various reasons, many of the Klamath residents do not wish to take such actions. Many feel it is too confrontational and could lead to "bad" press. "I respect their decision, even if I do not agree with it," Head stated emphatically. "Others can not and should not carry their water for them. It is their fight and I will be happy to muster and go support them, or to learn from what transpires with them to be more prepared and use it as a case study for the next one."

Over the weekend, Jeff Head wrote up a 'petition for redress'. Even among those who agreed, many questioned its content. "Is it perfectly worded? No. Could it be more specific and more detailed? Yes ... but to wait for everyone to agree is to spend time those farmers don't have ... so I wrote it, and put it out there, and it is making a life of its own now."

His message to the criticizers: "If anyone is offended that I took it upon myself ... I apologize, but I don't take it back. "

A petition of this type is not meant to be a binding document. It is simply meant to demonstrate the type of backing that is behind a potential action, so (in this case) bureaucrats and politicians can understand what they had best do if they value their political hides. Head was scarce on details to carry out his action, " ... but if there are several hundred thousand signatures very quickly, it will work out in a way to the benefit of those farmers in allowing them to continue their livelihood and give them restitution for their losses in my opinion."

Head concluded by saying, "I mostly feel it is too late for these types of petitions, but since this is the path the folks over there have chosen, I figured to help them as best I could. And who knows, maybe it'll do the trick because passions and interest are high all over the nation."

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