This is the seventh of the monthly columns my late dad wrote:
Old Rusty lives way back in the boonies with a couple of hound dogs and one lazy ole mule. With nothing to do all day except whittle and listen to the radio, he gets some off-the-wall ideas about our political structure and its impact on our daily lives. Maybe you will get a chuckle out of some of the stuff he has come up with, and who knows, you may even agree with parts of it.If you like this one, Rusty Rucker No. 1 is here, Rusty Rucker No. 2 is here, Rusty Rucker No. 3 is here, Rusty Rucker No. 4 is here, Rusty Rucker No. 5 is here, Rusty Rucker No. 6 is here, and the assorted poems I recovered are here. Posted by Tiger at July 22, 2003 11:59 PMFebruary, 1999 Updated regularly -- Totally new first of every month.
Now here is something that'll blow off the top of your head.
Twenty-six years after the federal government banned it, the poisonous collar worn around a sheep's neck to kill attacking coyotes may be approved for use in Idaho.
The state departments of Agriculture and Fish and Game are endorsing the return of the livestock protection collar, which contains a small dose of compound 1080, or sodium fluoroacetate. When coyotes bite into a sheep's neck and break the collar, it releases the poison that later kills the coyote. This compound is more frightening than any poison ever conceived. Every single solitary lifeform who comes in contact with it.
Representatives of animal rights and environmental groups have appeared before House and Senate agriculture committees to oppose the collar, saying the compound could leak into the ground water, kill wildlife that feed on animal carcasses or kill humans who accidentally are exposed to it.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of compound 1080 in 1972 after wildlife on public ranges and two dozen humans had died from ingesting it.
When they attempted to unleash this compound here in Texas - we fought HARD to stop it. You should know why. Your state might someday entertain the idea of using it. If you ever spoke out against anything in your life - that would be the time. Eagles have been killed by 1080 put out for coyotes, and California condors, which conservationists are desperately trying to save, have died from eating ground squirrels poisoned by 1080.In 1972 President Richard Nixon signed an executive order prohibiting the use of Compound 1080, and its interstate transportation. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan, in response to an appeal from seven western senators rescinded that executive order.
Now for the icing on the cake. This poison is chemically stable. That means that a decade from now, the ground it is spilled on is toxic. It has the potential ability to kill.
This is bad stuff folks.. bad stuff. Much worse than DDT!!!!
Thanks for the ride. Y'all come back now ... Ya hear!!!
As Confucius said: In a country well governed poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of.
NEVER FORGET -- Big Brother is ALWAYS WATCHING!