The animal rights people are the periphery -- the issue does not touch very many people. Animal rights folks are either laughed at or thought silly. When they turn loose a bunch of minks, for instance, they are thought criminals who are taking the livelihood from the mink farmer. And for a bunch of movie stars, who haven't missed a meal and don't worry about their heating bill, to say "don't eat meat" or "don't wear fur" to those who...well, you get the idea.

Look for real issues, and stay focused on one or two of them. The environment in this area, how the Administration's logging policies are going to affect you, for instance. Remember that all politics is local, and if it doesn't affect me,/i>, buddy, I don't give a damn.

And put your money AND LIFE where your mouth is. "...The khaki coats are hung in the closet/Near the furs" says it all, condemning the pseudos on both sides.