Walt Palmer (poacher) is proof that wealth does not trickle down and that the rich are undertaxed.

[Syzygy321]

81. Proof that wealth does not trickle down?

Dunno how you got there.

I have been wondering what happened to the man's fifty grand. I am no fan of trophy hunting - and this case shows the depravity of it - but can we take a breath and consider that money?

In Cecil's area, people probably make two bucks a day of they're male, or 75 cents a day if they're female. So yeah, it's pretty gross that a rich foreigner tramps in with million-dollar accessories and kills lions. But the upside (if things are done right) IS the trickle-down. The local conservation efforts need money. The local people also need money. The dentist and others like him have money they want to throw around.

If your land is poor but has wild game, and some rich jerk will pay huge money for a safari, there are advantages. Take that fifty thou and use it for land conservation. Use it to train locals as game wardens or guides - because when they make a good salary they won't have to poach. Use it to lift up girls and women with education, healthcare, and jobs - empowered women choose to have fewer kids, which means fewer hungry kids, so again, less reason to poach.

Basically, a safari is a luxury tax on the ultra-rich idiots who want bragging rights. It spreads their wealth to those who need it. It's like the rich people who climb Everest or go Eco-touring in the Galapagos: there's an ick factor (rich folks stomping through poor folks' land) and one must work to prevent exploitation and environmental damage, but it's good to get rich people spending their money in poor places.

The dentist could have bought a 50-grand diamond-studded watch, and made de Beers richer. He could have bought a private jet, and made Boeing richer. I would much rather see his money plowed into conservation.

I am sorry about Cecil. But eco-tourism is generally a good thing for developing nations and (in the long run) for their wildlife.

So - looking past emotionalism - I think there may be a role for big game hunting, if it is tightly controlled by governments, and well managed, and the rich foreigners' money goes where it is needed. More money means more protected game in the end.