problems with pupae at the airport?

[Mike Soukup]

I hate to re-ignite this thread, but I was unable to respond over the
past few days.  First, as for "inflammatory comments", I think that
Johns  statement:

 " Mike's response is a powerful display of  ignorance combined with
stupidity" is MUCH more inflammatory than anything I said.  

Second, there was no ignorance OR stupidity on MY part.  I realize that
imported pests can cause havoc.  And, I know that Gypsy moths were
brought in by a individual.  I ain't stupid.  

But, lets examine some facts here.  MOST runaway exotics were imported
WITH PERMISSION by the USDA.  In fact, in many cases, it WAS thier idea. 
These are the same people who regulate me.  The second most prevalent
cause of exotic introductions is commerce.  Zebra mussels, Noctua
pronuba....they all "just got here"....didn't need any help from
anybody.  And, I've reared Lasiocampids, I see how they hide.  How long
would it have been before The Gypsy moth got here on it's own thru
commerce?  And, once it was here, the same people who want to regulate
me, in thier ignorance, started a MASSIVE spraying program which, not
only extended the duration and destruction of Gypsy moth infestations
(they tend to defoliate and move on....spraying decreased the population
numbers which inhibited the defolition - so there was no reason to move
on), it also destroyed native leps up and down the east coast.  Third,
most species expand thier range due to some change in the environment -
or due to the actions of some catalyst.  Birds carry plant seeds far
from thier original homes and deposit them.  This is natures way.  How
can ANYBODY as a mere human be so arrogant as to think THEY know what
nature's plan is.  One of the reasons nature may have put humans here
may have been to change the environment.  We don't know.  To try to hold
the earth in environmental stasis is a stupid, foolish idea.  It's never
been that way in the past, and it will never be that way in the future. 
Yet, we humans, have the unmitigated audacity to think we know better.
	And, even if I do agree that importing things and letting them run
loose is "bad", why does this need to be done at the federal level? 
Does Alaska need the same restrictions as Hawaii....I don't think so. 
Yet, that is how it is done.  And, if you tried to get a permit to
import a tropical species, say, Atlas moths, into Alaska - as a private
citizen, it would, most likely, be turned down by Mr. Flanders at the
USDA.  Are we afraid of Atlas moths...whose larvae die quickly at
temperatures under 70°, are going to decimate the tundra....I don't
think so.

Last, looking back thru history, MOST great achievements were performed
by INDIVIDUALS not groups or governments.  So, it would only stand to
reason that individuals will be responsible for some of the foul ups
(ie. Gypsy moths).  But, if you look at the forest, and not the trees,
you would realize that our government and large businesses (with
governments permission) have caused more environmental disasters in the
past 20 years than the sum of all idividuals throughout history.  And,
if you looked at the ratio of achievements / problems, I think the
individual wins hands down.  Yet, you are willing to deny resources to
the individual and place them in the hands of the government.  Not THAT
is both ignorant and stupid.

	And, my real point of all of this NOT to argue the merits of
importation or not.  As an American citizen, I read and re-read the
constitution and federalist papers regularly.  It is my duty
(John....when was the last time YOU read the constitution?).  And, the
bottom line is OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO
REGULATE ME.  Sure, congress may have passed unconstitutional laws and
set up unconstitutional agencies.... And that is what I am complaining
about.  The socialists have been incrementally destroying our
constitution with help from an ignorant public....who want everything
safe and cozy.  Well folks, wake up, Freedom is NOT safety.  In fact,
they are diametrically opposed.  

I will now drop this subject forever (thank GOD!) and leave you with one
of my favorite quotes:

"Anyone who trades thier freedom for safety deserves neither".


Enjoy


-- 
Mike Soukup
mikayak at ix.netcom.com
Web Page => http://pw1.netcom.com/~mikayak
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