Mark’s Musings – September 19, 2012

Mark Fortune

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

I believe that I have used that well coined phrase in columns past. Well, this one has irked my ire a bit. What about you ask? Glad you did.

NO, NO, NO! I do not want the state of Ohio to use MY hard earned tax dollars to build a 3.5 million dollar “warehouse type facility” on the outskirts of Columbus that will house exotic animals confiscated by the great state of Ohio. Surely, our lawmakers had the foresight to think about this when they passed the law regarding exotic animals. All of this because of one incident in Muskingum County.

Frankly, I am frustrated when my precious tax dollars are used for special interest groups, individual mantras and an otherwise seemingly endless parade of silliness. Build roads, (four lane highway anyone) bridges or just give the money to our college students so they aren’t living in debt for the rest of their life. Apparently what started at the federal level has now made its way to the state level. Spending our tax dollars because of an error in judgment just does not make, well, good sense. Surely we can come up with a better solution. Buy a deserted island off the coast of the Malaysia? (There are thousands of them, by the way) Donate them to the world renowned Columbus Zoo perhaps? Or, as is the case with thousands of dogs and cats – unfortunately for many of us that love our dogs and cats – (okay, I love dogs more than cats but I still like the felines) destroy them.

For it is not just the building of the facility, it is the upkeep, staffing, feeding and more of these wild creatures. Who is going to run the facility? Do we need veterinarians, zoologists, etc.? And note the key word there – “wild”. Lions, tigers and bears were not meant to be “housed” or “domesticated”.

As you can tell, my dander is up a bit. Sorry if you disagree – and if you do, drop me an email and let me know. I am always open to hearing the other side because sometimes I can be a bit, well, opinionated. But I like to keep my options open and enjoy a good debate. Let me know your thoughts please.

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Category: Mark's Musings