Did you hear the buzzzzz?

The more I pay attention, the more I am convinced that our legislators are completely unable to do anything right.

You may have heard that there is a disorder affecting honeybees (Colony Collapse Disorder) which is causing some problems around the nation for beekeepers. Scientists think they have found the virus that causes it, but that is not what this post is about. The government wants to “help” with this problem. What would a rational person think that the government should do? Fund scientific research honeybees? Yes, that might be a good idea. However, our law makers have another solution to the problem. They are going to plant native flowers. What impact will this have on CCD? In all likelihood, it will have no impact at all.

Widespread deaths of honeybees vital to agriculture have prompted Maryland lawmakers to move toward approving a new program to promote native plants.

The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval today to a bill that would allow the Department of Agriculture to give grants to people planting native plants. Scientists say the native plants are important because they help attract bees that pollinate crops.

Yes, of course. Our legislators think they have done something positive for bees by planting native flowers. The funniest part of all this is the specific mention of NATIVE flowers. Honeybees are themselves not native to North America. They came over on a boat. I doubt our lawmakers are aware of this, but it’s a moot point anyway.

The scariest part of all is that our legislators are just as clueless about bees as they are about affordable housing, the environment, health care, the economy and any other number of problems. No doubt, their “solutions” to problems in these areas will be completely useless as well.