Still think Earth First and the ELF are a bunch of crazies?

[Radical Activist]

Looks like our system of representative government has once again failed to reflect the interests and will of the people with this ANWR vote. Personally, I'm not sure a group of people conducting acts of civil disobedience and sabotage to stop the drilling in Alaska wouldn't be such a bad thing.

And for the benefit of the authorities who may read this message, I'm not about to travel to Alaska to do it, so don't worry about me. ;)

[jdj]

1. I never did.

I think they are doing what they believe is right.

[illflem]

2. Destruction of property just makes people pissed

and discredits the agenda of groups like EF and ELF

[Radical Activist]

3. Losing the ANWR vote didn't make them pissed

Maybe we should worry more about doing something effective and less about pissing off polluters.

[tedzbear]

17. Bombing Iraq just makes people pissed...

...and discredits the agenda of groups like the Republican Party.

[Dark]

4. Aren't they the ones who claimed that beer is healthier than milk?

Or is that another group I'm thinking of?

Anywho, destroying private property is wrong. Unless that property is actually hurting a human being, it should not be destroyed.

But I am dismayed at the ANWR drilling. Oh well, I guess I should grab a bottle of whiskey and just watch it all come tumbling down.

[Radical Activist]

5. Maybe PETA

Ridicule in the media is one of the methods the CIA advocates for dismissing left wing ideologies they find to be dangerous.

Is destroying construction equipment and vehicles being used to destroy ANWR more immoral than destroying ANWR?

I'm sure the oil companies and government will be happy to see you doing nothing but drinking whiskey. People who do nothing to resist are in effect giving their consent to whatever nasty thing the government is doing.

[jdj]

6. good point.

"Is destroying construction equipment and vehicles being used to destroy ANWR more immoral than destroying ANWR"?

speaking of PETA then speaking of "ridicule in the media as a CIA method" is redundant, but PETA also has the $$$ of the fur commission and cattlemans assoc. on their case.

[Radical Activist]

10. wow

I thought everyone would tell me to not be so extremist.

I've never heard of PETA getting funding from those sources, but they do seem to have a lot of money as compared to other radical left wing organizations. hmmmm...

[jdj]

14. no, the anti-PETA movement is funded by these folks

that's why you always hear bullshit here about how PETA blew up MT. Everest, or burned down the Detroit zoo.

[Radical Activist]

15. Oh I see your point.

Makes sense.

[Dark]

7. What they are going to do to ANWR is disgusting and immoral, but

will more immoral acts make things right? Or will they do anything except delay the project and foster resentment and odium towards ELF and their cause?

This won't gain us the support we need to stop this. We need people to be agianst it.

[Radical Activist]

11. Yes, it could stall the project

until public sentiment has changed or until after the next election. It could also raise the cost so high that it will discourage the oil companies from continuing the project. That would be a lot more effective that writing emails and signing online petitions, which don't appear to accomplish anything.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Public sentiment doesn't need to be changed. Just the votes in

congress. Last poll I saw was something like 65% against drilling in ANWR.

Of course, in this democracy the will of the people counts for shit.

[Radical Activist]

19. That's what I thought

We already have public opinion on our side. The will of the people should be enforced.

[TheModernTerrorist]

8. agreed

at this point there is little left in my moral bank that I wouldn't resolve in a similar fashion. I think Malcom X had it right... at least in part.

[Radical Activist]

21. Oh, and personally

I would like to think that beer is healthier than milk. I drink more beer than milk anyway.

[chascarrillo]

9. Yes

They're still crazy. If anything, their juvenile antics made it a sure bet that drilling would start in ANWR in retaliation. Great job, ELF. Great job.

[ConsAreLiars]

13. Peta and ELF caused drilling in ANWR?

Wow! That is the most bizarre "theory" I've seen on DU for a long time, and you have some pretty stiff competition.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Right. The oil companies are going to invest millions of dollars

in exploration, test holes, drilling, pipelines,

because they're pissed off at ELF.

I keep warning people that if they visit FR they need to get their shots, or risk being infected by Freeper logic.

[Cleita]

12. Some kind of protesting is in order.

I would hesitate to send a large group of protesters physically there, who would be camping and probably doing quite a bit of damage by being there and camping on a pristine wilderness. I would rather do something from a distance in warning the companies away from drilling, something that would make it not worth their while to do so.

[Radical Activist]

20. Interesting thought. n/t

[Baconfoot]

22. Read the Federalist Papers. The representatives were NEVER meant to

merely reflect the wishes of the people. They are supposed to represent in the sense that a lawyer respresents her client, not in the sense that a realist painting represents its subject. The Articles of Confederation did not work.

There are methods for altering the system and making the system function more smoothly which are BUILT INTO the system, and which do not require violence.

I believe our system is basically a good one, which is having difficulty right now for various reasons (lack of transparency in the legislative deliberation process comes to mind... remember when debates on the floor actually persuaded people? I think this went out of style sometime in the 1920's or 30's.). When you use violence you are saying not only that the system isn't working (with which I agree) but that the only way to fix it is with violence. I disagree. I disrepectfully disagree.

This great democratic republic experiment of ours must fail if we are not committed to making it work, if we are not willing to sacrifice to make it work. Lincoln was right. Earth First and ELF are wrong.

END QUICK RANT