Oby,



All excellent points in both of your posts but the problem with the phrase of "legitimate biodiversity"...In that legitimate as defined by who? Scientists? Which scientists? The government? As Rep. Pastor states in his response letter back to Greg which states "It is widely accepted by the scientific community that nonnative invasive wildlife is having an impact on our nation's ecosystem"...



He is right about the impact on the nation's ecosystem...For decades, SOME Nonnative Invasive Species (NIS) have had a negative impact on the environment (habitat) here in the US (e.g. Zebra Mussell, Fire Ant, etc). In other instances, the NIS has been very beneficial to the economy (they are only concentrating on the negative). He, and the supporters of HR-669 (and other bills/regulations before it), are wrong with their solution. On the face of it, banning plants and animals seems logical (especially if you are in the regulating/enforcement business) but will that "solve" the problem? No it will not.



The reason it will not is because even if they ban everything, there will STILL be NIS here in the US because of our trade policies such as GATT, NAFTA, etc. Trade is essential for our economy (import/export) because the raw materials, finished goods, agricultural products, etc all generate income for people and people pay taxes (sales, income, property, etc). Additionally, there are other taxes generated as well...All to benefit the people and the government. So unless the government is prepared to ban ALL foreign trade, the NIS WILL ALWAYS FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE HABITATS OF THE US.



The reason for this is because in most other countries, they either will not (lower cost = higher profit) or they simply do not have the ability to "regulate" or enforce regulation for that matter, even the simplest of inspection protocols...Whether its an animal/insect, plant/seed, etc...The NIS will find their way here and there isn't anyhting the government can effectively do to stop it. NOTHING! As a matter of fact, can you think of a single instance where the government has been able to stop any of the NIS that are currently in the US? Think about it.



In other words, animals do not recognize international borders by any means...They are just trying to survive and they've been "migrating" or "hitch-hiking" on their own for how many years before man even existed on earth? So, there must be some other agenda in the works here because no matter what the government does, they cannot stop NIS in any economical manner without making virtually every product so expensive that our economy would simply fail...



The NIS (HR-669) is just the "tip-of-the-iceberg" as the government; its "approved" scientists and academics (you pick the university and you'd probably guess correctly); Non-Government Organizatin (NGO); etc already know that, TRADE = NIS. Check your email...



Later,

Jim.
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CSRAJim

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