Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Read the Riot Act

Have you ever heard about someone having someone else "read them the riot act"? From what I understand, this usually occurs during a heated exchange of words or verbal fight. It seems like a strange time to start reading legislation to someone. I mean, think about the last time you were having an argument with someone. Would it have helped you (or the other person for that matter) if one of you had, right in the middle of the yelling and screaming, all of a sudden whipped out the 1973 Endangered Species Act and started reading it?

You: Well you said that you would take care of it but when I came home there it was, still all over the floor!


Them: Don't judge me! I've had a really stressful week ok? Steve from Accounting took my parking spot EVERY SINGLE DAY this week and that has got me a little wound up!


You: So now it's MY fault that this Steve guy stole your parking spot? Don't take that out on me!


Them: It's just that I always try to tell you about my day and you always act like my problems are just so trivial! Well you're the one who's trivial!


You: Oh yeah? Well, according the Endangered Species Act of 1973


SEC. 2.16 U.S.C. 1531(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds
and declares that—
(1) various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the
United States have been rendered extinct as a consequence of
economic growth and development untempered by adequate
concern and conservation;
(2) other species of fish, wildlife, and plants have been so
depleted in numbers that they are in danger of or threatened
with extinction;
(3) these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of aesthetic,
ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific
value to the Nation and its people;
Sec. 3 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973 222
(4) the United States has pledged itself as a sovereign
state in the international community to conserve to the extent
practicable the various species of fish or wildlife and plants
facing extinction, pursuant to—
(A) migratory bird treaties with Canada and Mexico;
(B) the Migratory and Endangered Bird Treaty with
Japan;
(C) the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife
Preservation in the Western Hemisphere;
(D) the International Convention for the Northwest
Atlantic Fisheries;
(E) the International Convention for the High Seas
Fisheries of the North Pacific Ocean;
(F) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; and
(G) other international agreements; and
(5) encouraging the States and other interested parties,
through Federal financial assistance and a system of incentives,
to develop and maintain conservation programs which
meet national and international standards is a key to meeting
the Nation’s international commitments and to better safeguarding,
for the benefit of all citizens, the Nation’s heritage
in fish, wildlife, and plants.
Them: ........WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?

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