Gov. Palin & "ethics" -- She really does look like Cruella

[mojowork_n]

I just read the "friend from Alaska" top pick in today's Greatest's Threads...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6854376

and thought it was terrific, but the tone (and lack of sources, and visuals) made it sound a little bit like a viral e-mail. That whole, "Guys, I just got this from a friend of a friend" hearsay sort of thing bothered me just a little.

I don't have any reason to doubt that any part of that post isn't accurate or correct, but here are a few photos, and a sourced link, to round out the argument and discussion:








...That whole "hunting from helicopters" thing is so wrong, as a 'sporting' pursuit. Upstate where I'm from, it's considered extremely bad form to use snow mobiles, or dirt bikes, in any sort of deer-herding, "mechanized velociraptor" hunting strategy.

There are a whole set of specific guidelines that apply to ordinary folks using ordinary vehicles during the hunting season. I found this overview, online, from a neighboring state:

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:CQZuqeYOUPAJ:files.dnr.state.mn.us/staging/sara/access/2002_hunting.htm+DNR+prohibits+snowmobiles+used+to+drive+deer&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us&client=firefox-a

ATVs, SNOWMOBILES, AND OTHER OFF-ROAD VEHICLES

The mixture of off-road motor vehicles and hunting on public lands has proven to be volatile. It presents one of the biggest challenges of how to responsibly use technology while maintaining a conservation ethic and mutual respect among users of the outdoors. A variety of regulations, as outlined below, are intended to address some of these issues, but the real key to attaining mutual respect and understanding is the behavior of each individual user of these vehicles and of others who share the woods and fields of Minnesota.

Each user of off-road motor vehicles and each hunter is responsible for knowing and obeying the laws and regulations. However, in addition to following the law, it is important for motorized users to show respect and consideration for other hunters and outdoor users, and for those not using motorized vehicles to recognize and respect that off-road vehicles, when used legally and responsibly, have a legitimate place in Minnesota’s outdoors. The challenge is to find ways to compatibly share our outdoor resources in ways that promote conservation and achieve mutual respect.

The summary below provides a simple guide to the existing off-road vehicle rules and regulations related to hunting and trapping found in this handbook:

• General restrictions on ATVs and snowmobiles: page 29

• Use of ATVs and snowmobiles during firearms deer season: page 57

• Use of ATVs, snowmobiles, and other vehicles in Wildlife Management Areas: pages 111-113

But those rules, apparently, don't apply to anyone using helicopters, for the same thing, in Alaska.

The last I heard, several years ago, when our local sheriff's department was considering purchase of helicopters in crime fighting, it cost around $1,500 an hour to fly a helicopter...

That's the difference between what Gov. Palin is doing up in Alaska, and the rules that apply to you and me.

It's not like too many of those overfed faux-Vikings in the furry suits look like they've missed a meal, lately. (Unlike the dinosaurs who were "driving prey" to stay alive, and feed their young, back in the Jurassic.)

Ultimately, with that sort of hunting "ethic," what else is off-limits for those people?

I can see the Future, now, when we lowly peasants will be prohibited from "poaching" from the nobility's helicopters-only hunting zones.

[mojowork_n]

1. Here's hoping some of this trickles up

to Jon, Keith, Stephen or Rachel.