Letters to the editor: Wolves, America COMPETES Act, Interfaith Sanctuary
Wolves
The Idaho Wolf Depredation law forces the Idaho wolf population to one animal off the endangered species list. The bill signed by Gov. Brad Little sought to reduce Idaho’s wolf population in 2015 by 90%. This law should be removed and the mass amounts of money poured into this issue and law should be used to help conservation groups, as well as ranchers and herders to safely protect their sheep and the wolf packs to help wolves and humans coexist.
Many proponents of the Wolf Depredation Law argue that wolves kill too many sheep and are a danger to society. It is true that wolves can kill livestock. Moreover, we cannot turn a blind eye to the generations of herders who rely on wild areas for grazing and to continue their way of life.
However, there is new technology that protects herds and wolves safely. Examples of nonlethal methods are spotlights, noisemakers and temporary electric fences for nightime. As a result, livestock holders can protect their animals and continue to use the same lands they have been using for generations. In turn, wolves can be safe from harmful and deadly methods and coexist.
Anika Vandenburgh, Hailey
COMPETES Act
Countries like China are jeopardizing the United States’ standing as a global economic leader, in large part because of their ability to build a 21st century, STEM-oriented workforce. While the U.S. leads the way in educating some of the greatest talent, many of these individuals take their skills elsewhere due to immigration barriers to stay in the U.S. The Reagan Institute found that from 2007-2018, the share of Chinese students returning to China after studying abroad increased from 30% to 78%.
If America is going to harness international talent to advance industries critical to our national security and economic leadership, then we need policies like the America COMPETES Act to allow foreign-born STEM professionals to remain in the country and work. Limiting green cards for foreign-born STEM professionals will not increase national security, properly vetting and funding the intelligence community with skilled professionals will.
Sen. Mike Crapo wasn’t wrong in calling out China as a threat to American innovation during his address on the Senate version of the America COMPETES Act, the United States Innovation and Competition Act. I urge Sens. Crapo and Jim Risch to keep critical immigration provisions in the final version of the America COMPETES Act.
David Cahoon, Nampa
Interfaith Sanctuary
I often hear, “We don’t want Boise to look like Seattle or Portland,” and angry complaints about tents downtown. Honestly, Boise, if we don’t wish to see camping around the city, people who have lost their homes need a place to be. It’s easier to simply disdain people experiencing homelessness, to believe their poor choices led them to this, that they somehow deserve it, or like it. Conveniently, with those beliefs, one has no responsibility to help. You can pretend to follow your faith, your values, while ignoring the suffering of others right in front of you. Interfaith Sanctuary was born when faith leaders around the city could no longer stomach witnessing people freeze on our streets. If you disdain those experiencing homelessness, if you believe you have no responsibility to help, it doesn’t change the reality that we have a growing homelessness problem, that we have extreme weather, that elderly, families and children don’t have homes. It doesn’t change the fact that if you don’t wish to see people camping in our city, we must give them a place to be. Boise needs a larger facility for Interfaith Sanctuary.
Barb Hair, Boise