[TN-Bird] Re: About that April Ivory-bill posting

I know these sites are not a democracy, but is there anyway to gauge the 
opinion of both active posters as well as those who simply read the posts and 
decide what we want?

If we want no "real world" intrusion such as politics, that needs to be clear 
and the moderator will just have to not forward posts that broach such 
topics. It's beginning to look very random which "political" posts get through 
and 
which do not.

Unfortunately, again in my opinion only, politics is becoming more important 
to birders and birding. If you're not willing to fight for something, you 
might just lose it. 

If we can't discuss political issues facing our pastime here, where else 
should it be discussed?

I'll use an example. In my opinion the recent Chesapeake Bay Bridge 
"compromise" set a deplorable precedent. I've never birded from any of the 
affected 
islands, and now I never intend to do so. Again, in my opinion, politics not 
security drove the effort to limit access. Thorough security searches and 
background checks should have been enough. But $50 an hour for a law 
enforcement 
officer to follow birders around? That's ridiculous and where the bad precedent 
comes in. The local economy is helped enough when birders spend cash for the 
opportunity to bird there. The $50 "tax" is an insult to people who are helping 
the economy.   It's already been defined by both sides of the political 
spectrum 
that terrorism wins when it causes us to change our lifestyle. Well, guess 
what we have been doing? 

There are lots of political issues out there that affect birds and birding, 
including perhaps the Endangered Species Act. This forum could help share views 
on such issues.

And, if subscribers don't like a certain message, do what I do. Hit DELETE. 

I guess, basically, I just feel we need a decision. Agree to see both sides 
of an issue by accepting ALL posts or set firm restrictions and stop any posts 
that deviate from reporting bird sightings or birding events.


Bryan Stevens,
Hampton, TN

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