75% of red snapper now belong to private interests

I hardly see not funding the pass and the Ft. Morgan pier as being anti fishing. I miss fishing the pass but I also understand that other projects that benefit the masses take priority when funds are scarce. But I do see one party that proudly affiliates itself with environmental extremists that are anti oil and gas, anti hunting and fishing animal rights extremists, and view hard working people like me who want lower taxes and border security as greedy racists. The voting records of my US and state reps are conservative and I would be insane for voting them out for the sake of change.

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

I hardly see not funding the pass and the Ft. Morgan pier as being anti fishing. I miss fishing the pass but I also understand that other projects that benefit the masses take priority when funds are scarce. But I do see one party that proudly affiliates itself with environmental extremists that are anti oil and gas, anti hunting and fishing animal rights extremists, and view hard working people like me who want lower taxes and border security as greedy racists. The voting records of my US and state reps are conservative and I would be insane for voting them out for the sake of change.

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You articulate your position well. My contention is that the ones conserving, therefore conservative, aren't GOP. I think that everyone knows that oil and gas will remain primary sources of energy for our lifetimes. A conservative approach would be to NOT use up all of those resources during our lifetimes, but instead, to seek renewable sources to supplement. What Republican brings a forward view to the table? Republicans are presently in power in AL. Is government shrinking and are you paying less money in taxes? Or are those funds being siphoned off to support BIG business at the expense of small business? Isn't keeping our air quality and water quality at certain levels a way of conserving what we have - not letting it get worse? I look at states primarily Democrat and I don't see those states outlawing hunting/fishing/gun rights. As a gun owner/carrier, avid fisherman and overall outdoorsman, I'm not about to support a party that would take those things away. That suggestion has been implanted by the GOP, as a way of keeping sportsmen in their camp. But it's simply not true. The Second Amendment will remain alive and well, standing on its own and it's the GOP that aligns itself with big business versus the sportsmen, not the Democrats. You're right to take these concerns seriously, though. They're all important issues! Just know that the memes that you repeat have been carefully crafted in a Republican think-tank and marketed to you based on your preferences - all in the same way that any other consumer product is pitched. Just remember though, when cigarettes were pitched to consumers by doctors. At some point, you have to say to yourself, "This is just not right!"

Intelligent thinking people form their opinions based on fact, not Fox News, MSNBC or political propaganda. I don't know any conservatives whose goal is to pollute our air and water. I have yet to see an economically feasible alternative to oil, coal, and natural gas. The exception to this is hydroelectric power which emits no air or water pollution barring a spill of some type of lubricant. But according to the EPA hydro doesn't qualify as "green" energy. TVA is forced to purchase "green" power from the grid at a higher rate than they produce on their own from coal, nuclear and hydro. The higher power rates have just taken more money out of my pocket and that of all business in the region no matter how big or small and. The Obama administration's war on coal has killed good paying union wage mining jobs. Take a look on the news some time at the air quality in Bejing and China and India's industrial cities. I wonder who's pockets BP has been lining?

Obama was top recipient of BP-related dollars in 2008 - CNN.com

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

Intelligent thinking people form their opinions based on fact, not Fox News, MSNBC or political propaganda. I don't know any conservatives whose goal is to pollute our air and water. I have yet to see an economically feasible alternative to oil, coal, and natural gas. The exception to this is hydroelectric power which emits no air or water pollution barring a spill of some type of lubricant. But according to the EPA hydro doesn't qualify as "green" energy. TVA is forced to purchase "green" power from the grid at a higher rate than they produce on their own from coal, nuclear and hydro. The higher power rates have just taken more money out of my pocket and that of all business in the region no matter how big or small and. The Obama administration's war on coal has killed good paying union wage mining jobs. Take a look on the news some time at the air quality in Bejing and China and India's industrial cities. I wonder who's pockets BP has been lining?

Obama was top recipient of BP-related dollars in 2008 - CNN.com

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I'm glad to see that you're in favor of hydroelectric dams. I'm all for construction of new dams where that is feasible. I don't hear any politicians from either side offering to build new dams. The air quality in China and India is terrible and they have ramped up the use of coal to produce electricity. Coal is some dirty stuff and pointing to the lack of air quality in China and India illustrates this point. Of COURSE it's costly to move to new energy sources. Non-renewable energy sources are, by definition, going to run out one day. As they get closer and closer to running out, the prices will keep going up. Renewable sources will have the opposite effect. At first, they will be quite costly, but as more of the nation comes online, the costs will go down. Coal PRODUCTION is up, so I don't know where you got the idea that the coal industry is declining. USAGE is the USA is down, but EXPORTS of coal are at an all-time high and that keeping coal miners going in the western/midwestern states, primarily. The Future of Coal: Despite Gas Boom, Coal Isn't Dead - WSJ