someone else said:
> Maybe the only way to get things changed is for native fish
enthusiasts
> to join forces with reptile hobbyists, aviculturalisats and others to
promote
> legislative changes and simply go over the heads of the wildlife
people if
> they are not open to discussion. Unless we now live in a totalitarian
state,
> these agencies must still comply with the rulings of an elected
legislature.
These wildlife agencies are not made of arrogant dolts who routinely
defy
common sense. State and federal wildlife agencies, along with all
agencies
that produce intangible long-term benefits, are chronically underfunded
and
politically under-represented. So if they have policies that don't make
sense...
well, that makes sense.
Almost everytime these government and state agencies are mentioned on
this list, it always seems to be in bash mode. I guess few notice the
good
works they do. Having volunteered at a wildlife refuge, and having had a
chance to follow some mid-Atlantic states trying to work together on a
particular fisheries issue, I've come away feeling sympathetic towards
these agencies. Sure, there are some bizarre regulations out there, and
some
of these folks don't have the best of people skills. So they piss you
off.
But look at the big picture. On the whole, they're doing pretty good.
By all means, *do* lobby your legislators. But when doing so, don't
forget to praise the good work that has already been done by these
agencies.
They need our support as well as our criticism.
- shireen
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