Re: NANFA-- Bush puts hold on "dead zone" plan

Jeffrey Fullerton (tcmajorr_at_westol.com)
Mon, 05 Feb 2001 15:14:13 -0500

> Jeff described a Utopian world I think we'd all like to live in, but it is
> destined to fail because it doesn't account for the lack of uniform ethical
> standards and goals, and the realities of human nature.
>
Freedom is not a panacea but it allows more options for experimentation.
A system preoccupied with imposing uniformity often thwarts this process
for the sake of convenience of the system. I felt very encouraged when
the idea that species and their habitats ought to be recognized for
their commercial value came into being about a decade ago. Why shouldn't
private individuals be allowed to propagate rare species for trade, or
for reintroduction under supervison of the proper authorities? It is
still possible to have uniform standards to regulate such activities and
to even coordinate them to fulfil goals set by state and federal
agencies - at far less cost than to fund everything with tax money.

You could get more things done at less cost.

> the images streaming through my television
> and newspapers on environmental disasters and species extinctions in my
> lifetime; to the activities of land speculators and developers,
> profit-blinded corporations, and corporate agri-businesses who have little
> in common with the family farmer;
>
And who do you think underwrote much of this activity with agricultural
subsidies, and grants to dam, dredge and channelize waterways over the
last century? The same agencies who are now wanting to take control of
everything to undo the damage. Right here in my own backyard we have a
good example - the lower part of the Greenlick Watershed- once an
incredible diverisity of meandering stream, oxbows and cutoffs, aluvial
forest, skunk cabbage beds , open marsh with sweet flag and iris, plus a
thriving population of wood turtles and northern leopard frogs- all
destroyed and it was not by private ownership. It was cleared and turned
into a flood control dam back in the late 70s. Much of what was lost
might even still be there had the land remained in private hands. Who
knows, maybe when the old fellow who owned much of it died- someone else
could have bought it and donated the land to the Nature Conservancy.
Of course that dosen't matter anymore. It's gone forever now.

Jeff

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