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A moment of silence for the Thylacine.

On July 10th in 1936, the Tasmanian government passed legislation protecting one of its more unique animals… a creature that had died off in the rest of the world. This was the Tasmanian marsupial wolf.

But they were a bit late… since by the time they got around to protecting the beastie, THERE WAS ONLY ONE LEFT. Just two months after the protective legislation passed, the final representative of marsupial wolves died in captivity. Seems that a careless zookeeper locked him out of his shelter, so he was exposed to extreme temperatures (hot Tasmanian day, cold Tasmanian night) and perished into eternity.

There’s some footage available of the very last Thylacine, too.

Now, some people claim to have seen surviving specimens in the wilds of Tasmania. I suppose this isn’t completely impossible. In fact, the Tasmanian wolf interests me because it is one of the more likely cryptozoological animals. Unlike Bigfoot or the chupacabra, we know the creature once existed. And unlike the alleged dinosaurs in the Congo or giant ground sloths in the Amazon, we know it existed recently.

I think it would be extremely cool if there was a remnant population surviving somewhere in the dense wilderness. I’ll need more than some spotty eyewitness accounts to convince me, though.

Alive or not, this episode should make us more aware that things do go extinct. Speaking of…

A moment of silence for another highly endangered specimen:

That’s right. In one of the most shameless displays of cowardice I’ve ever seen, the US Congress decided to pass a bill to expand the government’s illegally-begun surveillance and wiretap system. Bush signed it into law today.

The surveillance system, which has largely evaded the normal checks and balances, accountabilities, and usual channels, was begun in violation of the U.S. Constitution. What we’re seeing today is an attempt at making it all legal. Sort of like if I’ve been robbing banks across the country, then get elected, then pass laws making it okay for me to rob banks.

According to the New York Times: “Debate over the surveillance law was the one area where Democrats had held firm in opposition. House Democrats went so far as to allow a temporary surveillance measure to expire in February, leading to a five-month impasse and prompting accusations from Mr. Bush that the nation’s defenses against another strike by Al Qaeda had been weakened. But in the end Mr. Bush won out, as administration officials helped forge a deal between Republican and Democratic leaders that included almost all the major elements the White House wanted.”

It’s funny, but Democrats were handed victories in the mid-term election because of voter disapproval over Republican abuse of power, heavy spending, and corruption. But now those same Democrats are simply empowering those same Republicans. Even Barrack Obama, a statesman I truly like, compromised his expressed opposition and voted in favor of this.

Oh, and on the same day, Karl Rove defied a subpoena to appear before Congress. Just flat-out didn’t show up. I wonder what would happen to us plebeians if we ever displayed this audacity?

I’m forced to toy with the idea of an all-out Plebeian Revolt. You know, where the people of this country (We the People) rise up, kick out the parasitic politicians who brazenly ignore our Constitution while living fat off our money and don’t even bother to read the legislation they vote on. Why exactly do we put up with these clowns? Isn’t the best way to get rid of ticks to grab them by the head, and pull?

Guess that’s why I’ve been a lifelong non-partisan. Agree with some things on the conservative side, some things on the liberal side, and many things in between, above, and beyond. That’s why I write for the Populist Party, because they make the shocking declaration that politicians should adhere to our founding principles:

From “Contract with America: The Bill of Rights” by Steve Osborn, a fellow Populist Party writer:

• Without the First Amendment, newspapers could only print the “party line” or be suppressed. Books and plays would be censored or banned. We might have to attend the State Authorized Religion, or be forbidden to attend any other form of worship, or any worship at all. We could even have a church telling us how to live, backed up with government force! We would have no right of public assembly or protest, nor could we petition the government for a redress of grievances.
• Without the Second Amendment, we would be a completely disarmed populace, at the mercy of government troops or security forces.
• Without the Third Amendment, the government could quarter troops in your home without your consent.
• Without the Fourth Amendment, the government’s security force or military could search your home at will, without a warrant, confiscate your papers and property, monitor your communications and phone conversations without your ever knowing about it.
• Without the Fifth Amendment, you could be picked up, your property confiscated, you could be held incommunicado for an indefinite time without legal counsel and could be forced to testify against yourself.
• Without the Sixth Amendment, your could be held for an indefinite period, without charge, and without being told why you’re being held. Your trial, if any, could be held in secret without your being able to confront your accusers or examining any evidence, nor would you have the right to legal counsel.
• Without the Seventh Amendment, in civil suits, you would not have the right of trial by jury.
• Without the Eighth Amendment, there would be no limit on the amount of bail set or fines imposed, and any cruel punishment could be meted out, even death by torture.
• Without the Ninth Amendment, any rights not spelled out would be forfeit to the government.
• Without the Tenth Amendment, the People of the United States would have no powers reserved to themselves, it would all lie with the State.

Call me old-fashioned. I enjoy the fact that the Constitution is the supreme law of our land. That it is a secular document founded on Greco-Roman principles of democracy. And that I’ve actually read the thing, cover to cover, so I know what the hell I’m talking about.

The Cato Institute offers handy pocket-sized editions. My recommndation is that every American should read it… at least before it’s designated EC-10. Get a copy here.

Random Fact:

July is named for Julius Caesar (whose birthday is July 13.) It used to be called Quintillus.

Quote of the Day:
It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence. – Charles A. Beard