The Liquor Talking

Your reply to Sarah concerning wolves was more than adequate. You and Sarah responded with reason over emotion which is rare to see. There are a few points that never seem to get talked about, probably because it would hurt the agenda of federal agencies. The “reintroduction” of wolves is a lie, executed in a most dishonest fashion. You may know this, but this “reintroduced” wolf is not native, nor ever has been. It is an invasive species transplanted from Canada known as the Canadian Grey Wolf, which being adapted to colder climates, is extremely larger than the native mountain wolf of Montana, which is not much bigger than a coyote. It would be great to live alongside the native wolf in managed numbers, but what we have now is insulting. FWS Biologist Says Wolf Numbers Severly Underestimated! Dr. L. David Mech, Ph.D., Says over 3,000 wolves exist in ID, MT & WY. The states now have to pay for the damages caused by these wolves because the federal government forced this on the states. Who gave the federal government authority to usurp state sovereignty? If a wolf is reported killed – wardens, police, federal agents, and sometimes choppers are all mobilized. A fellow patriot is jailed or fined despite his justification. The states also pay for loss of hunting revenue and livestock compensation (if the rancher is compensated), not to mention the dangers of canine diseases. Of course, the problem is most likely far worse than we could ever know. This can all be easily verified with minimal research. You will not find the facts in the Gazette, schools, or television. Patriots are fighting back and as always, the real news is suppressed. For indisputable proof, the best group on the subject I have found is www.saveelk.com

Greg

Thanks. In most cases, I respond to reason with reason. Crackpots, one-liners and drive-by posters get the smelly end of the stick.

I’m thinking it might be like that whole global warming thing. A lot of people got duped into believing that nonsense who are now realizing what a load of crap it is.

In the case of wolves, well we eradicated them once from these parts. We can certainly do it again, once enough people realize they’ve been duped by the enviro-taliban.

That said, there are a couple things about your letter that give me pause. You wrote:

Short answer, the US Constitution. Like it or not, there are circumstances where federal law is necessary, and prudent. Animals, endangered or not can’t tell Montana from Michigan. It’s therefor appropriate for the feds to hold dominion over protecting endangered species, regardless of what the residents (even an overwhelming majority thereof) of the effected states want.

My beef isn’t a states rights issue so much as a states burden issue. That and the ESA is now a political tool rather than a scientific one. Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are seeing revenue-generating big game herds decimated AND are being asked to pitch in $ to help facilitate it.

Secondly, the website you provided is exactly what we DON’T need in the discussion. I’m all for scientific fact, but when presented in such a shrill format you’re only preaching to the choir. On the first page alone, I counted eleven exclamation points and four animated graphics. Regardless of how much truth is to be found there, I was singularly uninterested in clicking on anything. In short, this isn’t helping.

Sadly though, these things are rarely won on the merits of the arguments but rather by whomever can raise the strongest emotions.

Read Sarah’s response to see what I’m talking about.

Elim

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised at your response to my letter. Normally you eviscerate anyone who disagrees with you.

You also raise a valid point that humans must too be part of the equation. My response to that is that humans are probably the most adept animal on the planet at adaptation. Humans can now be found on every continent. No other species can make that claim.

It is true that we tend to alter the environment as opposed to learning to live within it. And it’s true that this is a strategy that has paid off over time.

My point is that we often go too far. The farmer that plows up a thousand acres for instance. Couldn’t he get by on half that, leaving the other half for the animals here before him? Given our advances in crop science, we’re now producing many times what we were on the same area of ground. Do we really need it all plowed and planted?

Finally, I think we’ve evolved beyond the point where we need to kill animals for food. I know, you’re a hunter and you find animal flesh to be tasty. I consider it barbaric and cruel, but will concede that I’ll not change your mind any more than you’ll change mine.

My question then is this; Is there no place for wolves in your world?

Okay, I have more than one question. You’re upset at the number of wolves. How many do you consider appropriate and how do you arrive at this number?

Finally, a few posts back, you had a picture of wolf pups and the question of if they would be gas bombed. Would you REALLY, really kill babies in this way?

Thanks in advance for your eloquent response.

Sarah

See, this is what I’m talking about. An actual conversation that reveals the thinking between opposing points of view.

It is refreshing and I only eviscerate people who try to drag the conversation into a vapid, “No, you suck!” exchange.

We don’t “tend to alter the environment” we alter it.

Humans are on every continent. Take Antarctica for instance. The people there did not grow fur and add a layer of insulating blubber in order to stay there. They put on warm coats, build shelters and only venture out of them when the weather permits.

As to the farmer, yes I suppose he could try to get by on less tillage. My question is: Why should he? For whatever reason, he/she had that much land at his/her disposal. He/she pays taxes on it and as any business person, seeks to maximize profit and by doing so earn a better lot in life.

To answer your first two questions, yes I believe that wolves can have a place here. As to a precise number, no I don’t have one. I would tolerate a managed population. Managed to the point that they could exist without having a detrimental impact on the environment, yes meaning the one with people in it.

Killing wolf pups?

Yeah they’re cute and cuddly. Trouble is, they don’t stay that way. Fast forward a few months:

As much as I hate it when people do it to me, I answer a question with a question:

Would you squish a baby spider on your arm?

Elim

Dude, I’m with you. What the hell are we doing in Libya? If it’s to prevent massacres, I kindly direct your attention to the Ivory Coast, the Sudan and Somalia. There’s wholesale slaughter going on in these places every day, but where is the US? For that matter, where’s the rest of the world?

You know the answer, don’t you?

Oil.

Hypocrisy knows no boundaries.

Chad

I don’t have a better answer than oil. If the places you name were sitting on vast oil deposits, you can bet the ranch the US (and the world) would be interested.

But to make matters worse, it turns out that China is the #1 buyer of Libyan oil. So we’re fighting for them too.

Elim

“The Mayor.”

Another ruined keyboard from you.

I had something similar in Alabama. My car was running rough and I pulled into a gas station to have it checked. The mechanic informed me that I was “low on all.”

All what?
All! You about two quarts down.
Two quarts low on ‘all?’
Yessir, get ya’ fixed right up.

He left and came back with two quarts of OIL and I was soon on my way.

Jeff

Having grown up in the south, I’m fluent in many dialects of Southern English.

I recall the time my cousin asked me “Could you carry me over to the Tote A Poke?”

Now, the nearest Tote A Poke was some 8 miles away. I told her no, but that I’d give her a ride in my truck.

“That’s what I asked you, dummy.”

Elim

Thank you so much for bringing “Story Time” back! Tuesday is my favorite day to read your blog.

Ellen

You’re not alone. I got 12 messages asking/demanding that I keep Story Time including one in Arabic.

Having the highest hit count didn’t hurt either.

Elim

I think he should kick the bitch to the curb.

Jill

Me too.

One question though; Who?

Elim