Absolute Corruption of Hunting Industry?
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Lord Acton in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887.
Like me, this may be what you think of when you read about a British Columbia proposal on deregulating parts the commercial hunting industry and turning regulation of the rest over to an industry-led board. I hate thinking such things when talking about hunters, but no matter the nobleness of intentions, too much power can change people and whatever good they wanted to accomplish. All you have to do is take a look at politicians for proof of this.
I believe less government intervention in everything is a good thing, but allowing an industry to do as they please without any checks and balances is never a good thing. When this type of thing happens, you end up with a group of people only worried about making the most money they can with very little concern for or about any other groups or causes. The bending and breaking of their rules often becomes a commonplace occurrence.
An example? Look back at the phone companies before they became regulated to prevent monopolies from forming. They answered to no one and customers were the ones who suffered as they raised rates to help fill their greed. Only after the government began regulating them and forced the creation of new companies did the public not have to worry about having their pockets emptied for something everyone should be able to enjoy.
I don’t know. I hope there wouldn’t be a huge number of hunters in the commercial hunting industry who would do such a thing. The truth is, though, it only takes a few rotten apples to ruin the entire barrel.
What do you think? Is such a plan a good thing or a bad thing? I’d like to hear other thoughts and opinions on this.
hunting, hunting sense, legislation, commercial hunting, hunting industry, Canada, British Columbia, deer hunting, trophy hunting, hunting guides, hunting outfitters
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