A bill originating with Republican presidential candidate Senator Rand Paul, would effectively repeal the Endangered Species Act, removing protections from 94% of currently listed species, including polar bears, wolves, grizzly bears, and sea otters. It would force the automatic removal of species from the endangered list after five years, whether or not those species had recovered and were deemed safe by scientists.
Worst of all, it would take the entire process of species protection out of the hands of biologists and wildlife experts, where it rests right now, and require the consent of state governors and a joint resolution of Congress. And if an endangered species was found to reside entirely in the borders of a single state, that state’s governor would have the power to overrule the protection of that species.
Good grief! Rand speaks for a political party most of whose members believe that god made the birds and the beasts. It says so in the “good book”. Whether that is so, or whether wild animals are the product of millenia of evolution, these creatures, with whom we share the planet, are a wondrous miracle, deserving our protection against gun-happy hunters. Why does Rand want to see them go? To free up the countryside for speculation and development. This tells you all you need to know about libertarianism. Follow the money. Libertarians like Paul sometimes like to quote Epicurus as an inspiration. Epicurus would be amazed, I’m sure, to be told the the Endangered Species Act was even necessary in the first place. “what on earth have you people done to your environment” he might exclaim, “that all these creatures have declined in number so drastically?”
Rand Paul quotes Epicurus? Finding something apropos in John Locke, maybe, but Epicurus? You’re a brave man to read what these Republican candidates are saying. They’re too great a threat to my ataraxia so I no longer dare look at what they say.
You have a point! It’s not a good way of starting the day, I agree.
Actually, Rand doesn’tquote Epicurus, as far as I know. But some Libertarians believe that their thinking comes down to them careof Epicurean thought. As usual, they pick bits of Epicurus and ignore the rest. They focus on eating, drinking, and not bothering about the welfare of others. Which, as we know , is a total misreading of what Epicurus said.
Yes, the libertarians are an example of Orwell’s insight that the most persuasive lie is omission.
If Rand Paul succeeds in repealing this vital bill, he will the the nearest thing the world has to a real life Satan. What he is proposing is monstrous.
I wish some American liberals would wake up and realise how much danger their country, and the world, is in. Its great that we can celebrate vicotries such as gay marriage and the lowering of the Confederate Flag. But the big issue at hand, climate change and the environment, is still ever urgent. We need to fight the largely anti environment GOP with everything we have.