Idahoans, your tax dollars are being used to subsidize horrifying animal cruelty | Opinion
Our group of wildlife conservationists recently received a wolf mortality report from Idaho Fish and Game that contained the following comments:
• “Buckshot in back, unhealed wounds. Ran over once with snow machine.”
• “Stabbed, later found to have a bullet wound near the shoulder in hide.”
• Many “wolves with teeth shattered or no teeth from chewing on traps”
• “Compound fracture left front foot while struggling in trap. Died of sepsis following release.”
• “Snare still attached. Broke … snare ~ 2 wks ago. Severe laceration around neck w/maggot infestation. Died am or previous evening.”
• “Pregnant female with 6 pups recovered from body cavity.”
Many of these people were financially rewarded through a trapping organization that receives state grants and contracts for killing your native wildlife.
How people can inflict such violence on wolves that have been living on Idaho land for eons, long before we humans arrived with our domestic livestock. Wolves are part of Idaho’s heritage and shares the same strong family bonds as we do. Conservation biologists have understood for decades the importance of predators to any ecosystem yet the wolf slaughter goes on, delivering unimaginable and relentless misery and suffering.
We MUST change this.
Christine Gertschen, Hailey
Support Pentagon audit
I hope you see this as good news as I did. Bernie Sanders is submitting a bill that will require the Pentagon to be audited. It seems the Pentagon can’t provide any proof of where 60% of the money they get goes.
We’re not talking about pocket change; we’re talking about over 500 billion dollars. So how does our Senators feel about this? It seems to me that if we had auditors for all the money given to each department, we could save trillions over a ten-year period.
When I was in the military during the Vietnam war, I worked with a person in the Comptroller office. He told me that at the end of the fiscal year, they had to buy millions worth of plywood just to spend the money so they could as for more the next year.
Even those companies that worked on a cost-plus basis, would purchase a piece of plywood to cut 8 inches off of it and throw the rest away. That way they could buy more and get more money.
You probably, use a tax service or an accountant to do your taxes. Why not make the Government do the same.
Jerry Johnson, Payette
Protecting tennants
Thanks to the City of Boise for considering a Tenant Protection Package consisting of fair and common-sense measures to protect renters from harmful practices. I look forward to seeing the finished product rolled out with effective marketing to ensure that new renters’ rights are easily accessed and understood by renters.
While the Tenant Protections Package can have a positive impact on preventing some evictions, there is still a long way to go to ensure everyone in Boise has access to decent, affordable housing. Speaking on behalf of the Boise/Ada County Homeless Coalition, we urge you to continue to push for measures that expedite development of a variety of affordable housing projects.
I understand there are many programs competing for funding from the city. Still, the housing crisis we are experiencing makes housing an urgent priority. Money and support infused into affordable housing is not only good for our city and its economy, it also radically changes for the better the lives of those who directly benefit – giving them back their dignity and sense of self-worth, and even improving their health. Please prioritize programs to assist our neighbors who are struggling to afford just their basic needs.
Pete Schroeder, Boise
Risch off-base on dams
About the only factual thing Senator Risch claimed in his op-ed was that hydro-power is is an important source of reliable and clean energy. This is true except when it comes to the four dams in Washington. Over fourteen years their annual average production has been 943 megawatts. This is minuscule compared to production from wind and solar. Reputable scientists (not hired by dam proponents) have proven that salmon need a riverine environment to the ocean. Studies have shown either taking out the four dams on the lower Snake or releasing massive amounts of stored water from Idaho would work, but either would jeopardize Idaho irrigators. Millions of acre-feet would be needed to create the same effect as breaching. It requires 4% surviving after the smolt to recover Idaho’s salmon. Presently it’s less than 1%. Crapo is correct only Congress can remove those dams. But the judge administering the Endangered Species Act can order 4%. This means: Breach the dams or drain the State of Idaho of our valuable water. Personally, I say breach the dams.
Mitch Sanchotena, Nampa
Dual-flush toilets
Because of chronic water shortages Australia requires all toilets to be dual-flush. This means that a number one flush uses about one-half the water as a number two flush. Just in case nobody has noticed Idaho has an arid climate. As the population grows water shortages will happen more and more frequently. As rising sea levels flood the west coast many flooded out people will move here.
Before it is too late we should change our laws to require dual-flush toilets for all new construction in Idaho.
I know that some will complain about government interference with their freedom to wastewater. Some men still need their mothers to tell them to wear a coat when it is cold outside so mothers/legislators step up and make a useful law that will save Idaho water. This is what a community is all about. We take care of one another.
David Rogers, Meridian
Carbon border adjustment fees
The 7/24 editorial accurately describes the hot mess we’re in as global warming heats the planet, making some locations uninhabitable. We know that extreme heat waves, wildfires, and flooding are not abstract or random phenomena, but a direct result of atmospheric heating from carbon pollution. If we ignore this looming existential threat, temperatures will continue to rise with dire consequences.
A great way to reduce carbon emissions worldwide is to start charging foreign polluters for their emissions through carbon border adjustment fees. Since US-made products (like steel) release lower than-average emissions, that will both cut foreign emissions and help our industries compete.
Congress’s bipartisan PROVE IT Act, takes the first step by measuring product-related emissions by US and foreign industries.
Ask your members of Congress to do two things: support the PROVE IT Act, which would pave the way to measuring emissions. And join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucuses working for solutions in the U.S. House and Senate. Take 5 minutes to contact Representative Simpson or Fulcher, and Senators Crapo and Risch.
The climate problem is bigger than partisan politics. Things are starting to boil, but we don’t need to be like frogs in a pot of water.
Linda Rytterager, Boise
Freedom for some
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade it was followed almost immediately by the GOP-controlled states implementing draconian anti-abortion laws thus denying women sovereignty over their own bodies.
Meanwhile, those same GOP-controlled states passed legislation that denied medical treatment to much of the LBGT+ community. More denial of individual sovereignty.
In the same vein, the GOP-controlled House inserted ‘poison pills’ in the Defense budget to stop the military from paying travel expenses for medical treatment that might involve an abortion. More personal sovereignty lost.
When the Court said ‘no’ to student loan forgiveness the result is thousands being mired in debt for decades just for getting an education.
All this could indicate that the GOP leadership has managed to alienate a significant number of women; minorities; medical professionals; librarians; teachers; family and friends of the LBGTQ+ community; and, many serving in our military.
It’s amazing that the GOP, which frequently and loudly totes ‘freedom’, spends so much time and energy denying freedoms to so many Americans.
All of this without even mentioning voting rights. That’s another attack on individual sovereignty. Appears that the only ‘freedoms’ that the GOP’s leadership is in favor of is their own.
Gil Beyer, Sandpoint
