I don't live a "country lifestyle", I live in the country and make a living off the land as my family has done for over 100 years. We love our land, timber, wildlife and cattle. If we take care of these resources, we hope they will take care of us for another 100 years. I am amazed at how many people think government regulation is the answer to any and all problems. It is not a perfect world. Nature is harsh and it can be cruel. Passing idiotic regulations based on "feelings" is utter nonsense. Ten years ago, I could take you to six colonies of redcockaded woodpeckers. Beautiful birds and very interesting. A regulation was created by the DNR to save the bird which required a quarter mile buffer be maintained around each colony. These colonies are now gone even though they could have been saved - thanks to overstringent, uninformed regulations.
Presently, there is a push to protect the gopher turtle. Fantastic little sea turtle that got trapped on land when the ocean receded. We have coexisted with them for generations. Occassionally we will kill one on accident with equipment but they persist and thrive on our land. Under the new regulations, I know of people exterminating them because of the restrictions the new regulations have placed on land having these animals. The sad part is, its not the developement or the cultivational practices that are killing these animals - their demise is due to people's fear of the regulations and the restrictions and inpractical costs associated with the compliance to these regulations.
We just went through one of the worst droughts I can remember. One pasture relied on a hand dug well that went dry. I hauled 1000 gallons of water a day to the cattle. Checked with friend at health department about getting a new well dug. I was told, due to presence of cattle, it was going to take anywhere from six weeks to six months to have everything in order to have a "permitted" well dug that met the regulations!
I do not fear people. I think most people mean well and for the most part are fairly knowledgeable when it comes to their business. What I fear is the government and its view that we the people do not know enough or care enough to be good stewards of the land and need to be regulated to the point that we cannot make decisions.
Laws and regulations are not the answer. Look at the laws regarding drugs. Has it stopped anything? There is a radar station in central america where on most any night you can watch planes leaving "uncharted" airstrips heading north. Very few are stopped. Most just come on in to the US. Gives you a whole new perspective on "controlled substances".
A senator once called the american people - Sheeple. Pretty good analogy I felt. Scare them a little and they will run to the sheppard and stay in line. Good strategy, if you want to control them.
One thing is for sure; though Lassie was a wonderful loving dog, if you keep messing with her - she will bite you! So if we continue to regulate as we are doing, we will be regulating our children out of jobs in the future - unless of course - they become regulators themselves.