Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

This is hilarious. Sad, but hilarious and I wonder how many other people found this inconsistency.

Freudenthal to Idaho: Ban game farms

In the wake of domestic elk escaping from an Idaho game farm, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal is asking the neighboring state to ban game farms and to help enact a communication system among the two states and Montana.

In a letter dated Thursday, Freudenthal thanked Idaho Gov. Jim Risch for the actions he took calling for a hunt on the escaped elk, and for the state notifying Wyoming.

Freudenthal said Wyoming banned game ranching 30 years ago "because of the obvious risks to wildlife and, further, to avoid situations like the one at Conant Creek from happening."

"We still firmly believe the ramifications of such operations to legitimate hunting recreation, and disease transmission -- including brucellosis -- to wildlife and domestic livestock, is not in the public interest," the Democrat wrote. "I'm hopeful that as a result of this regrettable development, that Idaho will consider implementing similar restrictive measures against game ranching and related high fence shooting operations."

So, the Governor of Wyoming wants Idaho to ban game farms because, among other things, the danger of Brucellosis transmission to domestic critters is too high.

EXCUSE ME GOV. FREUDENTHAL, YOU CONTINUE TO SPREAD BRUCELLOSIS AMONG ELK IN YOUR STATE ON THE FEEDING GROUNDS YOU SUPPORT AND ENDANGER YOUR STATES, AND OTHERS, BRUCELLOSIS FREE STATUS BY DOING SO. HOW DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING IDAHO DOES WHEN YOU ARE THE MAIN PROBLEM IN THE REGION WHEN IT COMES TO BRUCELLOSIS.

I always find hypocrisy like this funny, maddening but funny. Here Wyoming is just relaxing Brucellosis restrictions from their Brucellosis wreck and are now blaming other states. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Wyoming needs to get its own house in order before they start running around telling other people what to do with theirs.

As for a personal comment on game farms in Idaho. I have no problem with game farms. Montanans outlawed them by initiative a few years ago but if Idaho wants to have them, fine. The game farm in question where the elk got loose was not being run in accordance with Idaho law so the owner is getting what he deserves and ought to be financially responsible for the mess he is creating. As long as sufficient protections exists for wildlife it's fine. There could always be a problem, but with the proper safeguards they are minimal.

Democracy is hypocrisy without limitation. Iskander Mirza

Teen forum calls adults hypocritical

Some student panelists called a local Jackson group that's targeting underage drinking a "joke" because of what they said was hypocrisy on the part of adults when it comes to alcohol.

....

Shreiber said the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole is giving scholarships from money earned through Wine Fest.

"I went to a Rotary luncheon and I listened as they joked about a golf trip they were planning and at the end there would be a tailgate party," Shreiber said. "Most of the people there were involved with Communities Mobilizing. What kind of message is that?"

I can't agree with the teens more. A bunch of people with drinks in their hands talking about curbing underage drinking. Pretty hypocritical. The adults might be drinking "responsibly," if there is such a thing, but it still is not an appropriate message to be sending to kids.

I was over at a neighbors the other day branding and somebody there asked why I don't make my kids wear a helmet when they ride. I told him, "I know they should wear a helmet, it would definitely be safer, but there is not a chance in hell I would wear one so it would be hypocritical of me to make them wear one when I wouldn't. That's why I wear a seat belt now days. It would be hypocritical of me to expect my kids to use one if I didn't, so I did the right thing and wear one now, but there is no way I am wearing a helmet while riding."

The same thing could be said about drinking and smoking. When I got married and had kids I decided I needed to set the right example and quit doing both. If your parents don't do it you are less likely to do it. So far it's worked but there are a lot of teenage years ahead of me. We will see how it goes.

Back to the teens though, they're right, there is a lot of hypocrisy out there. That doesn't mean you can't look past it and do the right thing. It just makes it harder.

Rural towns aren't always idyllic. It's easy to feel trapped and be aware of social hypocrisy. Bill Pullman

Governor's bison ideas irk ranchers"

If Montana continues its current approach to bison that leave Yellowstone National Park, eventually Brucellosis will be transmitted to cattle, according to Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

"I don't want to be the governor of Montana when we lose our Brucellosis-free status," Schweitzer said.

So, Schweitzer doesn't want to be the Governor that loses Montana's Brucellosis-free status. His solution so that it doesn't happen? Let more Brucellosis infected bison wander around in the state potentially spreading the disease. How is this going to accomplish anything but infect Montana cattle with Brucellosis. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BRIAN. You're talking out of both sides of your mouth as usual.

I see a new proposal in this article that I have never seen before.

He has also suggested that a quarantine area could be set up for cattle outside Gardiner where cows would have to be tested for the disease as they enter and as they leave and would not be used for breeding in Montana or any other state.

So, set up a Brucellosis check station and confirm to all the world that Montana believes there is Brucellosis in the state. All this will accomplish is other states not accepting Montana cattle without being tested for Brucellosis. We will be Brucellosis-free state while at the same time, spending all the money for testing as if we weren't Brucellosis-free state. This accomplishes nothing and hurts the whole cattle industry in the state.

Another question, how is he going to make sure these cows aren't going to be used for breeding? Who made Schweitzer God and able to tell people with perfectly healthy cattle what they cannot do with them. I thought our government was supposed to protect private property, not confiscate it and tell us what we can and cannot do with it if there is no health risk associated with it.

The solution for this problem is for the Federal Government to acknowledge that they have a problem with their animals and to do something about it. That's not going to happen though. They require us private citizens to maintain a Brucellosis-free herd under penalty of law, but they don't have to follow that same requirement. Typical Government hypocrisy. Responsibility is the solution, to bad the government isn't responsible.

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. Ronald Reagan