It has been quite some time since I posted here. Call it the tyranny of the times. I’d like to dedicate today’s commentary to my friend, Justin, from Wyoming who has been reading me The Riot Act about getting back to business on this site.
So, back to business it is and Justin is to blame!
As is generally the case, the federal government has been kind enough to provide me with a ready supply of material. Here we go again – your wildlife management tax dollars at work.
USDA stops using beetles vs. invasive saltceder is the title of today’s highlighted article and it starts like this:
Concern about an endangered bird has caused the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare a cease-fire in its biological war against saltcedar, an invasive tree that has taken over riparian areas across the west.
Let’s first put this in historical perspective. Saltcedar, aka tamarisk, was introduced at the behest of the government as a “stabilization” project.
Excerpt:
The tree was introduced to the West during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and has since spread along streams throughout the region.
In typical government fashion they eventually decided this hadn’t been such a good idea.
Imagine that, the Feds found that their problem solving created Unintended Consequences insofar as one expensive program expanded into yet another expensive government program.
They began releasing saltcedar leaf beetles under the theory that they would eat the saltcedar. Believe it or not, the program was actually proceeding as intended.
Excerpt:
Now, scientists think the beetles are likely to spread from the states where they were introduced. They say it could be just a matter of time before the insects chew through saltcedar all the way down the Colorado River drainage in Arizona and eastern California.
But wait; there’s another dilemma!!
Excerpt:
The released beetles proliferated, the groups said, destroying several saltcedar trees containing southwestern willow flycatcher nests.
As it happens, the southwestern willow flycatcher is listed as an endangered species.
Let’s briefly recap so we don’t get lost in the maze. However, I’m going to add just a bit more history to keep today’s predicament in perspective.
In 1916 the Feds passed the Federal Farm Loan Act. This legislation allowed for farmers to obtain easy credit to expand the size of their farms and invest in machinery to make farming more efficient.
In the mid-30s, as a direct result of these new farming methods and subsequent overproduction (coupled with drought) the Dust Bowl was created. Erosion of the land became the newest Unintended Consequence and, thus, government concern.
Saltcedar was introduced to help stabilize riparian areas. As it spread, it choked out willows and cottonwoods (you know, Nature’s preferred choice for streamside stabilization).
As the willows and cottonwoods disappeared, the southwestern willow flycatcher adapted to its changing environment and started nesting in saltcedar.
To repair the damage created by saltcedar, the saltcedar leaf beetle was introduced to eat the saltcedar and the little buggers followed the meal ticket wherever it took them.
Apparently some government bureaucrat neglected to give the bugs a map of the places they were supposed to go.
And now, environmentalists are afraid that if the beetles are successful in removing the saltcedar outside the planned area those poor flycatchers will have no place to nest. Despite the fact that they adapted before to their changing environment.
Excerpt:
“It’s very serious,” said Robin Silver, with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Here is another quote I’d like you to consider.
Excerpt:
The federal government’s view that saltcedar leaf beetles could do no harm was an “illusion,” said Jeff Ruch, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
He’s right, you know, but in far more areas than beetles.
The true illusion is that the federal government can do much of anything without causing harm. Which is exactly why our Founding Fathers restricted their reach.
Excerpt:
“Perhaps the best hope for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher is for it to develop a taste for leaf beetles,” Ruch said.
I disagree.
The best hope for flycatchers – and for the citizens of this country – is for the federal government to get out of the loan business, the saltcedar business, the beetle business, the endangered species business, and any other business that isn’t specifically outlined in our U.S. Constitution.
When will we learn that our reliance on Washington is not only nonsensical, it is suicidal. Like the southwestern willow flycatcher, our Freedom is endangered…
