Okay, so let’s see here.  Should the Department of Transportation have the authority to determine whether or not our native wildlife (like wolves, polar bears, and panthers) are threatened by highway projects?  Does the Dept. of Transportation have such authority, currently?  Well, if it is left up to the Bush Administration, our scientists and wildlife biologists will no longer have the jurisdiction over whether a project endangers our animals.  Um, maybe it’s me . . . but is there any logic to this idea?  Oh yes, um, compromising animal life and the environment for sake of, well, money.

Ahhh!!!!

Once upon a time I thought that, and correct me if I’m wrong, based on our current model of education, individuals interested in a particular discipline will set out to study said discipline with the goal of becoming an expert in their field.  Sure, not everyone’s first choice of study in school works out for them their entire lives, but for those who do go into the field they prepared for, don’t they deserve the chance to work and make decisions based on their knowledge in a subject area?

Don’t our scientists deserve the opportunity and power that accompanies the long and rigorous training that brought them to the point in their careers where they work as scientists?

But alas, it is not to be.  Instead, the plan is to dismiss what science and those lofty scientists are recommending so that we can listen to a bunch of politicians, er, “experts” from the Department of Transportation?  I wanted to find out for myself whether the Dept. of Transportation employs any environmental field experts.   Well, as it turns out, the opportunity areas at D O T don’t include environmental scientists or biologists, but there are plenty of positions for engineers and highway safety specialists.  To see for yourself, go here.

It is my opinion that the only decisions that the Dept. of Transporation ought to make, theoretically, regarding polar bears and wolves, is whether or not the current transportation routes for our wildlife are in good working condition.  Yes, if the D O T wants to become involved with wildlife, why not have them focus on what they’re good at?  Oh yeah, that’s right.  Wildlife don’t need cement, lights, and lots of pollution.  So, based on my logic, the D O T needs to butt out of it, and while they’re at it, take  . . . arghh.  I have nothing nice to say.

To take action against the Bush Administration’s plans to gut the Endangered Species Act, send a message to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to let him know you will not stand for the weakening of endangered species protections. For a sample letter at the National Wildlife Federation, please visit Speak Up for Wildlife.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 2:44 pm and is filed under Nature, Take Action Tidbit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.