Comments on: Judge Says No to Snowmobiles in Yellowstone http://www.currentmind.com/2008/09/16/judge-says-no-to-snowmobiles-in-yellowstone/ News from a conservative frame of mind Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:52:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rob http://www.currentmind.com/2008/09/16/judge-says-no-to-snowmobiles-in-yellowstone/comment-page-1/#comment-4 rob Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:18:27 +0000 http://www.currentmind.com/?p=39#comment-4 "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People" has to be taken in spirit and not applied literally to the whim of every generation. For what benefit and enjoyment was the land originally set aside for? So people can experience the natural wonder of its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife. Those are the things that need to be protected for future generations. We can't think carelessly about how our generation wants to enjoy or benefit from the land. I'm sure the people would really enjoy the benefits of lower energy costs if we built geothermal power plants inside Yellowstone, but clearly this is not why the land was set aside. Likewise we need to temper how we use what the land is intended for and be responsible with how we enjoy it. “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People” has to be taken in spirit and not applied literally to the whim of every generation. For what benefit and enjoyment was the land originally set aside for? So people can experience the natural wonder of its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife. Those are the things that need to be protected for future generations.

We can’t think carelessly about how our generation wants to enjoy or benefit from the land. I’m sure the people would really enjoy the benefits of lower energy costs if we built geothermal power plants inside Yellowstone, but clearly this is not why the land was set aside. Likewise we need to temper how we use what the land is intended for and be responsible with how we enjoy it.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.currentmind.com/2008/09/16/judge-says-no-to-snowmobiles-in-yellowstone/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Dawn Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:00:41 +0000 http://www.currentmind.com/?p=39#comment-3 Wow, the attitude of the snowmobilers is exactly why I feel is the biggest obstacle with wildlife conservation out west. That air of "this is OUR land and no federal judge can tell us what to do with it" type of mentality is going to be the death of various wildlife conservation efforts including reintroducing species that once roamed those areas and/or trying to better establish animal species that are still there, but in VERY low numbers. I so want to move out to the west some day to better live in and enjoy the immense nature and wildlife that is out there. But I already know that I would probably be hated by anyone who thinks the way these snowmobile associations do. Animals need a place where they can be left alone and not have to deal with humans. It's bad enough what happens to some animals that leave the protective borders of Yellowstone National Park. Animals such as wolves and bison are many times shot and killed. Wolves because the three states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming seem to have a problem with letting wolves reclaim their place in nature as a top of the food chain predator. Why? Well because, wolves feed on various animals......elk and deer being just a few. And what do elk and deer have to do with the people that live in those states? Well, many people in those states like to hunt and kill elk and deer for various parts. These people try to claim that wolves are reducing the number of game elk and deer since their numbers have flourished. And that's probably true. But that is probably happening because the balance of nature is being corrected by the wolves and sustainable populations of deer and elk are existing because wolves keep them free of the dying or injured. His tone seems to almost say that national parks are for the enjoyment of the people no matter what...ie. at the expense of the animals or the environment. In many cases, I would agree with the notion that federal judges are not in touch with local area issues or ecosystems. But in this case, this judge got it right and the attitude that these people have (many residents in the states neighboring Yellowstone share this same type of mentality) is destructive to what people like Rob and I go out to Yellowstone for. Wow, the attitude of the snowmobilers is exactly why I feel is the biggest obstacle with wildlife conservation out west. That air of “this is OUR land and no federal judge can tell us what to do with it” type of mentality is going to be the death of various wildlife conservation efforts including reintroducing species that once roamed those areas and/or trying to better establish animal species that are still there, but in VERY low numbers. I so want to move out to the west some day to better live in and enjoy the immense nature and wildlife that is out there. But I already know that I would probably be hated by anyone who thinks the way these snowmobile associations do. Animals need a place where they can be left alone and not have to deal with humans.

It’s bad enough what happens to some animals that leave the protective borders of Yellowstone National Park. Animals such as wolves and bison are many times shot and killed. Wolves because the three states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming seem to have a problem with letting wolves reclaim their place in nature as a top of the food chain predator. Why? Well because, wolves feed on various animals……elk and deer being just a few. And what do elk and deer have to do with the people that live in those states? Well, many people in those states like to hunt and kill elk and deer for various parts. These people try to claim that wolves are reducing the number of game elk and deer since their numbers have flourished. And that’s probably true. But that is probably happening because the balance of nature is being corrected by the wolves and sustainable populations of deer and elk are existing because wolves keep them free of the dying or injured.

His tone seems to almost say that national parks are for the enjoyment of the people no matter what…ie. at the expense of the animals or the environment.

In many cases, I would agree with the notion that federal judges are not in touch with local area issues or ecosystems. But in this case, this judge got it right and the attitude that these people have (many residents in the states neighboring Yellowstone share this same type of mentality) is destructive to what people like Rob and I go out to Yellowstone for.

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