[Ryan W]

I can totally understand why you think the way you do Ed. Every year the noose gets tighter around our necks. It seems we run into a damned if we do-damned if we don't scenario at every turn.

But as much as it seems we've got a mountain to climb, we have to start walking somewhere. Gay marriage wasn't granted overnight, a lot of people had to work very hard to make it happen. A lot of marches, a lot of lobbying, a lot of letter writing, just to get it in a couple states, not national change like we're looking for. We've marched once, gonna take a lot more than that to cause any change. I agree with pete that making clear that we have the ability to vote as a block and will vote for the candidates that make advocating for fishermen in washington a priority is a big step. I agree that this battle is one we shouldn't have to fight, but the fact of the matter is that we have to fight it, and I very much doubt that any politician of any party has a "magic wand" that they can wave that will fix this (or for that matter, any) issue, and we should heavily beware any politican who seems that they are promising us such (AKA gov. blubberbutt promising fisheries related change then selling us out to out-of-state omega protein in order to fuel his personal aims of running for POTUS in 2016).

We started walking in 2010, we gotta keep our issue in the fronts of the minds of these politicians. 2012 is a big election year and both parties recognize that every vote in every race will count. We need to make it clear that every last one of us that can make it to the polls will make it and that we will vote as a block in supporting candidates that support our right to fish, Democrat or Republican.

All of this is my own opinion, and I certainly respect the opinions of others on this matter and hope to see you all there in March at the march.