As anglers and hunters, we have among us a good number of people who do not participate in the political process. This is much to the glee of anti-hunters and others who would foist their opinions upon an unsuspecting populace.
Other than occasional whining about something, we often do not look into things we hear about that may affect us, dismissing it as something we can't do anything about anyway. Most of us have our hands full trying to make a living or find a job. A lot of us don't vote. There was a time when I felt that way. But you should vote, at least to render your opinion as to the lesser of the two evils.
As sportsmen and conservationists, we need to keep abreast of political goings on. I also am not fond of politics. But, there is something on the horizon that I find particularly troubling. A somewhat quiet movement is going on that could have long-reaching effects for future generations in terms of fish and wildlife. In this day of "global" everything, there is also a global movement toward control of our inland and oceanic fish and wildlife. At the moment, this movement has no real authority, but the parts are in place for the future.
In the future, our children or grandchildren could wake up one morning and find out that Europeans and Asians have decided that they can no longer hunt certain lands or fish certain waters. Sound ridiculous? One would think.
Robert Montgomery, senior writer for BASS publications, recently wrote a column about the current administration's recent move to no longer accept public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing some of the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes and even inland waters.
Montgomery states, "Now we see NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the administration planning the future of recreational fishing access in America based on a similar agenda of these same groups (World Wildlife Fund and the International Fund for Animal Welfare) and other Big Green anti-use organizations, through an executive order by the President. The current U.S. direction with fishing is a direct parallel to what happened in Canada with hunting: The negative economic impacts on hard working American families and small businesses are being ignored."
Does the average guy have a clue about any of this? Folks, the future is in the making right now. Did the average Russian or German have a clue about atrocities that were to be committed by Stalin and Hitler? That, of course, is a different ballgame, or is it? Do we want to have hunting and fishing regulated in any way by global organizations and executive order? Sounds pretty far-fetched now, but what will the situation be in 20 years?
I'm sick of global this and global that. I want America to be America. We have to find out how candidates feel about globalism, then vote.
n Ken Maurer, Herndon, is a licensed fishing guide and a regular contributor to the Outdoors section. E-mail comments to kenrose@tds.net.
Sports
Ken Maurer's Inside Line column: Wake-up call
- Sports
-
-
Defense helps Crusaders snap skid
The going hasn't been easy for the Susquehanna University women's basketball team this season. So much so, that it hasn't won a game in more than a month.
-
SU rides Harley to win
With the chants of "ride the Harley" coming from the student body, sophomore Harley Sellinger certainly took visiting Goucher for a spin Friday night.
-
HS Roundup: Braves close in on playoff bid
Counted for dead not too long ago, the Shikellamy Braves are still alive and kicking and they are now one win away from making the District 4 playoffs.
-
Danville stays in HAC-I title race
When their 13-point lead had been whittled to seven midway through the fourth quarter Friday, the Danville girls were at a tipping point.
-
Harold Raker's column on high school wrestling: Playing the name game
Going into last weekend, with four Valley teams competing in the District 4 Class AA and AAA Duals Tournament, I had already made tentative plans to be in Hershey this week. Had things gone really well, I would have still been in Chocolatetown, covering at least one of them in the state tournament.
-
NCAA denies UConn APR waiver request
The NCAA on Friday turned down the University of Connecticut's request for a waiver that would allow its men's basketball team to play in the 2013 national championship tournament.
-
College Lacrosse: Bucknell men prepare to improve upon great season
LEWISBURG -- It started a handful of years ago, when the Bucknell men's lacrosse team put a big 'X' on the national map in Central Pennsylvania with an upset of No. 1 Maryland. From that point on Bison coach Frank Fedorjaka has had a difficult time getting big-time opponents on the schedule, even with Bucknell opting to travel under the worst of circumstances.
-
High school football: Pratt says Kutztown the right fit
SUNBURY -- When Shikellamy's Tyler Pratt joins the Kutztown University football team as a free safety next fall, he will already have a good feeling for what his position coach will expect from him. Pratt, who signed a national letter of intent this week to accept a scholarship offer to play for the Golden Bears, will be under the tutelage of his father's high school football coach.
-
Todd Stanford On high school boys basketball: Increasing the refs' workload
If two heads are better than one, does that mean six eyes are better than four? Not necessarily, according to some Heartland Athletic Conference officials. There is a move afoot in the HAC to cut the number of basketball referees from three to two for part of the season beginning next year.
-
High School Roundup: Greenwood boys complete perfect TVL season
Greenwood capped off an unbeaten 2011-12 Tri-Valley League season by crushing Halifax 61-38 on Thursday Night.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Defense helps Crusaders snap skid
