Whooping cranes mean more than people.

[noodle creek]

No one was arguing that it is only a waste of money because we can't hunt whooping cranes. Smalls an DB started that argument on their own. I think what most people are saying is that in the grand scheme of things, whether it be a mallard or a whooping crane, it just isn't the best thing to be spending money on.

Of course they are already spending money and will continue to do so, but that wasn't what the point of this thread was. Welfare is an expensive government program, but does that make it right?