For non-Americans, last Tuesday (November 2, 2010) was what is called a mid-term election here in the United States. That means there was no presidential election (which is every four years), being two years into the current president's term. This one was somewhat heated (I guess they all are), both on the national level and on the local level. But two propositions (proposed changes to the state law) on the Arizona ballot troubled me. One was to change the state constitution to protect traditional hunting methods. This was a veiled attempt to reinstitute leghold traps (called gin traps overseas), which Arizona voters banned several years ago. By not mentioning these specifically, and just talking about "traditional hunting" they tried to fool the public. I am happy to report the proposition was defeated (not by much, but it was). The other was put up by the legislature to make up for our budget deficits by repealing a law we voted on a couple years ago to set up a fund for setting aside land for conservation. They wanted to divert that money back into the general fund. I am happy to report that propostion was overwhelmingly defeated, 75% against and 25% for. It is almost unheard of in American politics to have that large of a margin on any issue. Clearly people support conservation, even in a majority Republican state like Arizona.
Amidst some of the mid term doom and gloom this is a major achievement! Clearly, conservation ethic is more firmly embedded in the Arizona populace than some private interests would want us to believe. Do you think/feel it has something to do with the wide open spaces and places sphere that one could characterise rural Arizona as? You have some phenomenal scenery ... ).
I hadn't realized just how phenomenal and diverse the Arizona scenery until my vacation there earlier this year.
