I respect and appreciate what you offer, what you've done and how you contribute, I've benefited from it myself on many occasion, wasn't thinking of you in my comments but I can see where youi'd take it that way based on your involvement with the big boys, sorry if I've offended. I'm saying it's getting tiresome hearing over and over from whoever (at times myself included) how screwed up our organizations are. I know many of these folks and believe me they didn't choose this life, most would be more than content to be out in the boonies left alone sucking rocks. I'm asking that we cut them some slack. However this turns out in the end financially and otherwise I will be ok, I know a few who won't be able to say that, hell they can't say it now. As to big minings commitment I stand by what I said in comparison they are severly lacking in the support for their fellow miner. Like you said the folks that work for the Big Boys donate quite regularly. I've had that very conversation with a geologist friend of mine that works in the industry who told me he sends money all the time, I wont say what he said as to his thoughts on why his employers didn't. The three groups you listed I don't consider as being part of the big mining community I'm referring to. They are all outstanding mining advocates of their own accord that I support as often as I can as well, the folks I'm refering to are the ones that don't need my money or involvement to fight these lunatics. Im speaking of those that have legal folks on staff, flush war chests, and political muscle to match. That's what we need now, it's beyond common sense and a right and just argument in the courtroom- none of this is being resoved in the courtroom and hasn't been in awhile. As we've seen being right and present in a court of law means little when you don't have the political muscle standing behind you.
Trying desperatly to educate myself so I can prosper.