> Truly, the triumph of politics over the scientific "evidence-based"
> approach.
> Would anyone ever seriously consider going back to the old pesticides?

Perhaps this response to the Congress's letter is a bit of an
overreaction.  Science is seldom unchanging.  Evidence changes.  Over the
years we have found that what was thought to be fact was an aberration. 
For that reason, I find no problem is asking the EPA reconsider their
decision on the use of insecticides - especially Neonics.  That is what the
President and Congress have asked the EPA to do.

I have enough of a background in science to be able to read the studies
and evaluate them.  The evidence to me is ambivalent.  I do think that the
studies that speak to the prophylactic use of Neonics should cause us to
stop and consider our system.  It may be a triumph of commercialism over
good sense.   The Fish and Wildlife Service did that and changed their
guidelines for the use of Neonics.

I am old enough to remember my father loading DDT into a hand sprayer and
spraying it around the back door.  It kept the bugs out, he said.  The
devastating negative effects were too subtle. I don't know if employing
Neonics will play out like DDT, but I have no problem with keeping our eyes
open.  I, for one, am glad the Congress wrote this letter.  That comes from
a guy who often does not like what congress does.

To answer the question, I would not suggest we go back to old pesticides,
but I also don't consider it an either/or situation.

My bees are having a hard time.  I vote for keeping our minds open.

Larry Krengel
Marengo, Illinois

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