tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post3562458829729206825..comments2023-09-16T04:08:25.750-07:00Comments on Butler's Birds: The Conservationist Divorce: Conservatives and EnvironmentalistsLaurence Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-62654517199647397202011-11-05T06:53:17.628-07:002011-11-05T06:53:17.628-07:00Excellent argument. As a naturalist, birder, and ...Excellent argument. As a naturalist, birder, and former educator, I am personally amazed at just how many people 'don't have a clue', and in that class, I include many politicians. I prefer to think they are clueless as opposed to just not caring enough.KaHollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02528677007819875856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-8434463286874473452011-10-28T13:25:49.543-07:002011-10-28T13:25:49.543-07:00That's well said Robert, thanks for weighing i...That's well said Robert, thanks for weighing in. I agree that most any conservationist effort, like conservatism, is best served at the local and individual levels.Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-87556167264324450822011-10-28T07:16:43.071-07:002011-10-28T07:16:43.071-07:00As a birder, I am an enivornmentalist, though with...As a birder, I am an enivornmentalist, though with a lower case "e" perhaps. I am also a political conservative and a conservation-minded Scout. I used to be a home builder and land developer and did my darnedest within my circle of influence to create wildlife friendly communities. My problem with much of the green movement is that it is mostly "green-washing". Many so-called "green" products are not as green as what we have traditionally used when you take a look at where that product came from all the way back to the material sources. The big difference between my environmentalism and others is that I still believe that most humans actually care about nature and its beauty and want to conserve it. We don't need the force of law (the point of gun) to tell us to conserve while at the same time robbing us of our natural rights and freedom. Rather than increase the tax burden on the citizenry, I'd like to see more private groups find ways to fund the preservation of or to restore the pristine wilderness. Too many people these days feel like everything is impossible unless the government doesn't because of the natural tendency toward "greed". The tells me that they have given up on the good in humanity. I choose to live with optimism that many people want to do and be good. Perhaps our motivation toward excellence should not be for money and power, but more spiritual. Even people that don't have religious beliefs can have a spiritual life focused on nature. The development of the human mind and talents and the sharing of those talents with the rest of the world can be spiritual too. Our species is certainly greater than what we have become.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333731452974780237noreply@blogger.com