--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As historian Gary Ferguson writes, \"while…" description: "\"“As historian Gary Ferguson writes, \"while livestock may be the kindling, the real fuel for the burn is that the federal government is behind the proje..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/william-r-lowry-59996_federal-government_as-historian-gary-ferguson-writes-while_353728.jpg" --- # As historian Gary Ferguson writes, "while livestock may be… ![“As historian Gary Ferguson writes, "while livestock may be the kindling, the real fuel for the burn is that the federal government is behind the project. . . . Westerners couldn't buy a more perfect evil if they rode straight to hell with a saddlebag full of cash." Or, as one stockman said in…” quote by William R. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/william-r-lowry-59996_federal-government_as-historian-gary-ferguson-writes-while_353728.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/william-r-lowry-59996_federal-government_as-historian-gary-ferguson-writes-while_353728.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/william-r-lowry-59996_federal-government_as-historian-gary-ferguson-writes-while_353728.jpg) > ““As historian Gary Ferguson writes, "while livestock may be the kindling, the real fuel for the burn is that the federal government is behind the project. . . . Westerners couldn't buy a more perfect evil if they rode straight to hell with a saddlebag full of cash." Or, as one stockman said in 1989, "It's not so much the wolves we're afraid of, it's the wolf managers.”” [William R. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-lowry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that government involvement fuels harmful projects, likening it to wolves being managed by humans rather than the wolves themselves. **In simple terms:** Government can enable destructive actions. Key Takeaway Scrutinize state involvement in harmful enterprises. Themes environment government exploitation Mood concerned analytical Type environmental political When to use this quote - resource extraction - wildlife management - policy making - corporate lobbying Key Concepts political economy ecology Questions to Reflect On - What role does government play in environmental issues? - How can accountability be balanced between state and private actors? A Different Perspective It may simplify complex causes to blame only government. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Wolves are afraid of humans, whereas dogs are not. 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