"Ranchers fighting comeback of a predator that's good for the land"

This recent article in the Arizona Republic really hits the proverbial nail when it characterizes the ongoing debate over Mexican wolf reintroduction in the southwest as a landlord-tenant dispute.

Consider what would happen if your landlord had a dog that chased your cat. You would either keep the cat away from the dog or move. You wouldn't expect the landlord to compensate you for kitty's inconvenience. [Especially if you tied a pork chop to said kitty's neck.]

Unless you were a rancher.

If your landlord decided not to renew your lease because she had other uses for the property, you wouldn't expect compensation.

Unless you were a rancher.

To continue with the metaphor from the article: If we think of ranchers as tenants, we might as well think of ourselves as their roommates. These folks don't just leave a pile of dirty dishes, they degrade the overall hygiene of the kitchen. Whatever contributions they allege to be making to "the lifestyle and culture of the West" are quickly offset by the fact that we, the taxpayers, continue to subsidize their rent.

It's pretty obnoxious, actually. The article really captures that well, as well as shines some reality on the flawed arguments of the anti-wolf crowd. It's worth a read.

And don't miss the slideshow.