..... with propaganda like this the herp hobby is going to need it. Front and center on Yahoo!
http://news.yahoo.com/pythons-apparently-wiping-everglades-mammals-201541112.html

The article is just the tip of the iceberg, look at the comments and realize this is how the majority of people feel about snakes including pretty colored BPs.

The general public is AGAINST the hobby, so getting support and trying to raise awareness among the sheeple may be more harmful in the long run.

The herp hobby will NEVER be able to raise the cash to elevate USARK to the level of lobbying power of HSUS or PETA. Not enough people in the entire hobby to compete on a spend VS. spend basis against those two behemoths alone nevermind the various ancillary animal nut groups.

Has USARK rasied the idea of boycotting corporate and celebrity donors to organizations like the HSUS? The info on donors and supporters should be easy to find as a so called non profit they have to report donations. Herpers may not be a huge group with in the mainstream, however in a tight economy every dollar counts and this may be a headache that makes the money suppliers to HSUS revaluate their support.

Instead of massive letter writing campaigns that get ignored from politicians, how about massive letter writing campaigns directed at corporations, movie-tv-music production and disribution companies as well as individual groups-actors-artists that support HSUS etc. Vote with your wallet and stop providing the very cash flow that is being used to destroy the herp hobby. Has this been an idea already addressed by USARK?

The only way to compete with the likes of HSUS and others is to reduce their operating budgets and their ability to peddle monetary influence on politicians. With the lack of support from the general public, and if the comments in the article I posted are any indication.... there are a lot of haters out there, then this may be a way to "amplify" the voice of herpers.

Again corporate margins are tighter than ever and the entertainment industry is having issues as well. A boycott of any size would get their attention and possibly have them reavaluate their donations to such groups.

If you just try to raise money to compete on a lobbying level..... well good luck with that!

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