I'm not sure where the fault lies with the introduction of pests......there are many villains, who were often simply enthusiasts, more than enough to go around, for sure. However, I think the example of kudzu illustrates the monomania about govt. that I believe hinders useful responses rather than facilitating the outcome that we all ( hopefully ) might like to see. The truth regarding kudzu is somewhat more complex than Tony suggests: " Second, the worst of our invasive plants were researched and introduced intentionally by the US government (kudzu) ." This from a Google search: "While Kudzu was introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Countries were invited to build exhibits to celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. The Japanese government constructed a beautiful garden filled with plants from their country. The large leaves and sweet-smelling blooms of kudzu captured the imagination of American gardeners who used the plant for ornamental purposes. Florida nursery operators, Charles and Lillie Pleas, discovered that animals would eat the plant and promoted its use for forage in the 1920s. Their Glen Arden Nursery in Chipley sold kudzu plants through the mail. A historical marker there proudly proclaims "Kudzu Developed Here." During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Soil Conservation Service promoted kudzu for erosion control. Hundreds of young men were given work planting kudzu through the Civilian Conservation Corps. Farmers were paid as much as eight dollars an acre as incentive to plant fields of the vines in the 1940s. "Cotton isn't king in the South anymore.Kudzu is king!"Channing Cope Kudzu Attacks AtlantaKudzu's most vocal advocate was Channing Cope of Covington, Georgia who promoted use of the vine to control erosion. Cope wrote about kudzu in articles for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and talked about its virtues frequently on his daily WSB-AM radio program broadcast from his front porch. During the 1940s, he traveled across the southeast starting Kudzu Clubs to honor what he called "the miracle vine." Cope was very disappointed when the U.S. government stopped advocating the use of kudzu in 1953." So the Govt didn't apparently introduce it & it was promoted vigorously by nurserymen & other advocates before the Govt did anything about it, & that was, after everyone else, to promote it. In fact the Govt was also the first to acknowledge its rampant behavior & attempted to control it over the usual objections. I don't see any other body that might be able to exercise some sort of control over the introduction of potential pests, I completely agree that it is unpredictable & barely rises to the level of science at the moment, but with pressure, & discussion, we might all be able to draft something better than what we have at the moment. The only thing that is certain right now, is that the status quo is not acceptable. If not getting every plant I want in the future is the price, then I'm happy enough to pay it. Robin Bell, Ithaca, NY