Years ago I watched sci-fi movies showing the government in control of everything. A sterile environment with cookie-cutter houses and all the people looking and acting the same. They made movies. There were books. And, there was the statement that if the US was to fall, it would not be because of outside forces but would come from within. I hope I scare you enough to contact your congressmen and your senators. Because it IS happening, folks. We are turning over the control of our lives and decision making to our government. Look at what has happened to our children and parental rights. All too often a parent has to fight as Alicia described about the pets. We are over-legislated because we are often too lazy to fight the battle now. A little story tells about the mouse who went running to his animal friends. Help, he said, the government is taking my house to use the land for a new building. What is that to us? his friends replied. You will find a new place to live. Soon, a chicken ran to his friends. Help, he said, the government is taking our children to work in their factories laying eggs according to their rules! What is that to us? his friends replied. At least they have jobs. This continued until the day the horse realized that he was losing his place as the transportation provider. He went running to his friends for help, only to realize that he had no more friends as the government had forced them all away. Alicia brings to us this excellent opportunity to make a difference and to make ourselves heard. One person CAN do something, but not if (s)he sits around complaining about it to the walls. Just like with the black-footed ferret, these are opportunities to make a difference. Please, even if you HATE politics as much as I do, get involved to make sure the government is YOUR voice, YOUR SERVANT and NOT your master. Go read the declaration of independence and find out WHY we were established. Get involved on the local level. Don't wait until someone comes to take your ferrets because everyone who doesn't care for ferrets decided nobody should have them. Because people, the only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good (wo)men to do nothing! renee :) (::stepping off soapbox, but still waving the AMERICAN flag::) It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [log in to unmask] International Ferret Congress http://www.ferretcongress.org American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org [Posted in FML 5686]