HSUS Weighs in on Important Election

I'm proud to say that I was blogging about Alaska's terrible record on wild animals before blogging about it was cool. (Hey, maybe I should write a country song about that!)
I've believed all along that Alaska was Ground Zero on the all-out war on wild animals - even before their governor, Sarah Palin, became the Republican vice presidential nominee. I've received questions regarding my blogging about animals so much in connection with "going green." People ask, "What does that have to do with it? You're off point." No, I think I'm right on point. You see, I've not always just been an animal lover because they're cute and furry and interesting.
Ever since I learned in a college world history class that the Black Plague was likely caused by humans skewing the natural chain that keeps such things in check, I've realized that we're all connected. You see, one leading theory for the cause of the Black Plague is that people in those times thought cats to be the bearers of evil. As such, people methodically killed any cat they came in contact with by pitching them off of castle walls. The resulting declining population of cats, who were the link to keep rodents in check, caused the rat population - and the diseases they carried - to explode.
Humans eliminating cats = a missing link in the natural chain.
We've seen this too, in modern times. By eliminating the natural predators of deer from the environment, we've seen an explosion of the deer population, which has led to more disease that they carry (in deer ticks), and even more present, more crashes with cars that lead to our own injuries and death.
Each animal is here for a purpose, providing something that the environment ultimately needs to survive. That makes them all - even the tarantula I spent an hour photographing yesterday - beautiful in their own way.
This is something I feel that Gov. Palin, nor her state obviously understands, given their barbaric practice of aerial wolf hunting, and the fight to keep the polar bear from the endangered species list.
This week, The Humane Society of the United States, for the first time in it's history, endorsed a presidential candidate. I don't agree with every stance the HSUS takes, but I must say, they're standing up and being counted among those of us who recognizes that the link in the chain must not further be weakened.
Obama not only recognizes the importance of alternative energy, but the need to protect that chain.

From the president of the HSLF:
"I'm proud to announce today that the HSLF board of directors -- which is comprised of both Democrats and Republicans -- has voted unanimously to endorse Barack Obama for President. The Obama-Biden ticket is the better choice on animal protection, and we urge all voters who care about the humane treatment of animals, no matter what their party affiliation, to vote for them."

AND:
"While McCain's positions on animal protection have been lukewarm, his choice of running mate cemented our decision to oppose his ticket. Gov. Sarah Palin's (R-Alaska) retrograde policies on animal welfare and conservation have led to an all-out war on Alaska's wolves and other creatures. Her record is so extreme that she has perhaps done more harm to animals than any other current governor in the United States."

[community.hsus.org]