Get a grip, Minnesota, about our skeeters - Essay Example

In her 2006 article, “Get a grip, Minnesota, about our skeeters”, Helgen argues that the cost of mosquito control both in terms of risks to the community and fiscal cost are too high. The audience is Minnesotans: Since Minnesota has so many lakes and rivers, mosquito control is a major part of policy. It is an op-ed and has the intent both of reducing public panic or dispelling myths and of organizing people to change their policy opinion. It is primarily a debate about facts and about policy.

Mosquito control, she argues, has serious costs in terms of toxic pesticides. She points out that, while West Nile and other mosquito-spread diseases are serious, the number of cases are nowhere near enough to warrant spending as much as is being spent by Minnesota. After all, flu cases kill far more a year yet we don't do much public-policy-wise except vaccinate. People die from bee stings or car chases far more often, but Minnesota hasn't spent time on bee control or better traffic safety. She doesn't make this argument, but there is also an obvious ecological concern.

Pesticides don't just pollute water and threaten to poison people: They also kill all sorts of other animals. And killing a part of the ecosystem always has ramifications. Mosquitos pollinate grasses and act as predators and as prey: Killing them or, worse, poisoning them, can cause cascading effects that harms birds, frogs, etc. The fact that it's a local article means that it's important to bear in mind that Helgen is arguing specifically about Minnesota. Maybe Latin Americans should spend money on controlling mosquitoes; Helgen's arguments don't apply there.

But her position does clearly apply to the situation of the Minnesota tax payer.