THROWING AWAY ELECTED AUTHORITY AND TRASHING THE CONSTITUTION

Authority is one of those things you question when you are growing up...and rightly so.  After all, if you don't question authority, how do you learn what it means and who to trust with authority over your life?  This is a normal developmental process with children.  Starting with the "Terrible Twos," it is a process.  If all goes well, by the time a child reaches a level of maturity and enters the adult world that person knows a little something about what justifies authority and what doesn't. That is the point of becoming an adult, after all, getting to take charge of one's own life and knowing who has justified authority in our society.  Authority, in a free society, is granted, not forced upon others.

But what happens when people who have been given legitimate authority through the election process in America decide to abdicate the responsibility they have been afforded by others' votes? What happens when the load of responsibilities handed to the elected class becomes so outrageously huge that the elected class willingly hand over their duties to the unelected government employees known as staff or to the unelected bureaucrat class?  We elect people to do a job and lately, all too often, we discover those we elected are not even close to doing that job. 

I've been watching this abdication of duties going on in my city for the last few years, to my consternation and disgust. I've seen policies show up out of nowhere in City Council meetings, policies that make no sense, that have no relevance to anything real, and yet invariably involve growing the bureaucracy by using more and more tax monies. At the same time, the tax coffers shrink and the elected whine about not having enough money for the necessary infrastructure projects. It truly is amazing to watch. We are granting authority to people who show up at ribbon cuttings and Chamber of Commerce meetings, but who hand over the reins for the real work to unelected boards and non-profits.

I did some checking around and found that I am not the only person noticing this.  In fact Amazon has a book by Bill Gertz published in 2008 called "The Failure Factory," on this same subject but focusing on national security. 

Here is an excerpt of the book description:

The U.S. government is in crisis.

With America’s attention fixated on who will step into the Oval Office in 2009, no one has noticed where the real power has shifted—to a vast network of unelected officials whose authority has grown wildly out of control. In his latest blockbuster book, acclaimed defense and national security reporter Bill Gertz exposes these astonishingly powerful leaders and their enablers in the political class—and their devastating impact on America's national security.

Gertz shows how entrenched liberal activists have become dominant even under an ostensibly conservative administration. And he names names of those who actively subvert official U.S. policy—including not only liberal Democrats but also a number of so-called Republicans who have joined this insidious “Blame America First” crowd.

So then, from my perspective back in the local trenches, here is what we see in the City Council meetings:  Some unelected board representative shows up at the City Council meeting with some perfumed version of a new program involving regulations and / or spending revenues, the discussion briefly describes all sorts of fictional speculative benefits of the program, a vote is called, and in the blink of an eye another coup overtaking our freedom has been swiftly and quietly accomplished.  Slam, bam, thank you ma'am.  We are not privy to any negotiations that might have taken place under the radar or behind closed doors prior to this vote.  The only thing visible for public consumption is the condensed, Cliff Notes version I just described.  And remember, most of the public isn't even watching this at all.

This is from Danville, California:

The Danville Town Council will be soon voting on devastating policies that will shape the future direction of Danville. Unelected unaccountable regional boards and bodies threaten our local control and want to force us to overbuild our town. Please help get the word out about Tuesday’s Town Hall.

 

I just told you exactly how Agenda 21 / Sustainable Development has been implemented in the United States.  This is how a bloodless coup takes place...on cat's feet, surreptitiously, insidiously.  This has reached critical stage at this point.  Agenda 21 is in place all over America and is growing every hour of every day.

Here's the deal. If you ask me who is in charge of this government at this point, I will tell you without any doubt, it is the unelected bureaucrat class, as in "soviets."  If you ask me why, I will tell you there are three reasons. The first reason is that government at all levels has become so convoluted and overpowering that no elected official could possibly keep up with it. (For instance, our State legislature had to deal with well over 500 bills this session alone...so many that no human being could possibly dissect and study that many bills. ) Secondly, the majority of elected politicians are in it to be liked and have big egos.  They are easily convinced by staff and lobbyists that they will be adored by the public for accomplishing the passage of so many bills. "See how much I did for you, Joe Citizen!!!"  Thirdly, there's money in this game. I can't begin to understand how that works or explain the many variations of that. (Our local poster child for this is a County Commissioner who has bought properties for which he keeps trying to get tax money spent to increase the values of those properties. )

The bureaucrat class cannot be fired by voters. They aren't vulnerable to popular elections. In fact, they don't go away unless the elected class defunds the bureaucrat class and their positions. It is only the elected officials who have the capability to shut down this bureaucrat class.  And how is that likely when the bureaucrats are enabling the laziness, wallets, and egos of the elected??  One wonders where you can find candidates for elected office who actually will get in there and get rid of this contagious disease that is killing America.

All of this could be fixed if there was a will to do so.  America, where are you?

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD

Technology is moving into the culture at such a fast pace that Joe and Jane Citizen can't even wrap their minds around it.  And, no, I am not suggesting paranoia is the best response to it.  But when government uses Joe's and Jane's money to use technology to take away their privacy, property rights, and their freedoms, I think it's time to take a hard look at what this "Brave New World" is foisting upon us.  Science fiction has become reality.  This is why we are looking at drone strikes on American citizens and why Rand Paul's filibuster was such a dramatic and seminal moment.

My readers know I have been on the rabbit trail, chasing down the power grab of Councils of Governments and trying to warn our elected officials.  To that end, I am going to share a few details with you from the grant application and grant that our Centralina Council of Governments took from the Federal government.  The grant is based on United Nations global governance.  But to hide that fact, our Federal government has obfuscated the jargon in an attempt to snooker the American public.  And a good job they've done so far.  

How do you like the idea that an unelected bureaucracy has given itself the power to assess and collect data on your personal belongings and your lifestyle?  (Worse that your elected officials are letting them do it.)  We know the Federal government is implementing data collection through the healthcare bill and through the public school system.  So why no do it through unelected planning agencies as well?  They are!

This may be too much "getting into the weeds" for some, but here is an example of what I mean:

Under the heading of "Energy Conservation" the HUD grant application sets out the budget to be spent on data collection on your home, your assets,  and your activities.  This bureaucratic cabal of self-important controllers. is using your tax dollars to pay people with infra-red thermal imaging equipment to come to your house and assess the greenhouse gases your house may be emitting.  Is your house leaking heat or cooling emissions? Remember this CCOG has captured 14 counties and all of the towns and cities within that area....four of the counties are not even in this state.

This project provides comparable analyses of energy-savings potentials for a cross-section of neighborhood houses in the CCOG/Catawba COG represented county region. Deliverables for this project include: (1) a compilation of neighborhood housing sampling per county for the Neighborhood Energy Profile Database; (2) assessments will be made as to which neighborhoods collectively have the best potential for realizing cost-effective energy savings; (3) targeting those identified neighborhoods with messages on how households can realize these savings through proven,
affordable, achievable and accessible measures.
The Neighborhood Energy Profile Database and Energy Enhancement Recommendations project team will be led by Jim Kirby, GREENTHINC., PLLC and Hamilton Cort, Cort Architectural Group, PA. Both will share the two-state/multi-county management/database development responsibilities for residential building energy performance assessment, corresponding database development, and publication of proven/affordable energy enhancement strategies. Members of the US Green Building Council-Charlotte Region Chapter (USGBC-CRC) will serve in the outreach messaging efforts and home sampling selection efforts for the 14 county CCOG region. Matthew Ryan, Efficiency 1st, LLC will provide on-site residential building diagnostics, assessment and reporting responsibilities for the two state/ multi-county residential buildings through blower-door/pressurization testing, HVAC systems review and envelope thermal imaging.

Under "Climate Change" is the taking of inventory on both public and private vehicle fleets.

ATC Associates will conduct an inventory of construction equipment used in the region to determine the model year, estimated usage hours and engine upgrade retrofits. This inventory will be conducted on both municipally-owned fleets and privately owned fleets (general contractors, grading, construction, and equipment rental companies) and entered into a database. The purpose will be to assess the age and emission levels of construction equipment used in our region to determine the scope of the problem that aging diesel fleets represents. The cost for their work, all of which is to be paid for using grant funds, is $85,760.
Mecklenburg County will assess the feasibility of expanding their highly successful GRADE (Grants to Reduce Aging Diesel Engines) Program. Currently the program targets older construction equipment in the region for engine repowers or replacement to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxide, a major component of ozone pollution. Expanding the program or creating a similar model to provide grant funding for diesel particulate filter retrofits will address the emissions of black carbon. Potential sources of funding for this program will also be explored. All of Mecklenburg County’s staff time (valued at $23,940) is being provided through an in-kind match.
UNCC will assess the job creation opportunities within the diesel retrofit sector (manufacturing, installation and maintenance) that would result from increasing the installation of diesel particulate filters on pre-2008 construction equipment and vehicles in the region. UNCC will also identify workforce retraining options for manufacturing and diesel mechanics. All funds attributed to UNC Charlotte, $31,705, are to be paid for by the grant.
Supporting work will also be provided by Clean Air Carolinas (CAC), a clean air advocacy group in the Charlotte region and by Jason Wager (CCOG Sustainability Program Manager). CAC is providing $2000 in in-kind staff assistance. Approximately 23.3% of Wager’s time is being provided by an in-kind match through CCOG. (NOTE: Wager’s time is accounted for in Section 1, Personnel Labor Costs, of the Budget Narrative.)

Presto!  There you have just two of the invasive Federal intrusions into our personal and private lives.  Oh...you say pollution is not personal and private, but is a "public" problem.  Well, the truth is the town I live in is 20 miles west of Charlotte and we do not have an air quality problem.  In fact, none of the other counties and communities outside Charlotte / Mecklenburg have any of the air quality problems that Charlotte has.  Furthermore, the idea that personal homes are causing Climate Change is just ridiculous.  Energy conservation can and should be left up to individuals who purchase energy.  That is the free market.  Here we have an unelected, self-appointed, group of meddling bureaucrats who intend to walk into your neighborhood with thermal imaging equipment, paid for with your Federal taxes, and then proceed to get the Federal government involved in your roofing, insulation, and HVAC system.  Or, how about this?  The friends I have who are in the construction business or the equipment rental business will be forced to have their equipment inspected by (again unelected) guns for hire who will then sic the Feds on them to pay for retrofits and or new equipment.  As you can see from the cited bits of that grant, the intention is to get more government grant money should the public and private entities not be able to pay for this "upgrade.  And how could they pay for this?  City governments are broke.  County governments are broke.  Personally owned businesses can't cough up money for this willy nilly.  So....who do you think is going to pay for that?  Got money?  You'd better hang onto your wallet.  Government is about to stick you with the tab ...and has already to the tune of $4.9 million for this "Sustainable Communities Initiative" planning grant.  (funny money that was borrowed from somewhere out there or printed out of fiction!)

Technology makes a lot of things possible.  Thermal imaging.  Carbon Capture. Energy efficiency.  But does that mean government has the right to trample on your rights to force you to comply with some other person's idea? What does that do to the free market?  I have some friends who own antique vehicles that are street legal.  Should these bureaucrats force them off the street?  And in doing so, does that make light rail less expensive or more environmentally friendly?  No.  Does forcing people to seal up their homes do anything to help the environment?  No.  So they use a tiny bit less energy, does that keep the snow from falling or a river from flooding?  No. 

Just because you can invade someone's privacy or personal choices, doesn't mean you should!  As compared with drone strikes on American citizens, this may seem trivial.  Trust me it is not trivial and will threaten our economic survival even more than it already is.

WHO ARE THE REAL "DENIERS?"

 In the name of Sustainable Development, will people ever wake up????

I can't grab the photos from this particular page, but please go here and see what proponents of Sustainable Development have in mind for housing in France.  You'll notice all of the usual alluring descriptions about energy efficiency and green certification.  Since this is in France, it made me wonder if this is the new definition for La Cage Au Folles!   

But I digress....

The people who deny the existence of Agenda 21, or ridicule those who are warning our fellow citizens, should do some serious research. The document "Agenda 21" is published for all to see and easily found on the web. Bill Clinton's "President's Council on Sustainable Development," which began bringing the tenets of Agenda 21 into the U.S. through Federal agencies and funding, is easily found on the web. Obama's White House Rural Council is easily found on the web. The wording of all of these is deliberately alluring and utopian, however, when you understand what this government dependency brings, you can easily see these plans have nothing to do with your freedoms or rights. Agenda 21 is complete dependency in trade for loss of freedoms and rights. Once familiar with the doctrine of Agenda 21 / Sustainable Development / Smart Growth, all those curious enough can find the exact same doctrine in our State agencies, Counties and Cities. 

The real question is, how can anyone deny the existence of Agenda 21 when the facts are staring you right in the face? The real question is, why have our leaders sold out the U.S. Constitution and implemented a doctrine that completely undermines our sovereignty, our rights, our freedoms, and our economic security? The real question is, how many unelected agencies and bureaucrats are dangling borrowed taxpayer funding in front of our councils and commissions to bribe them into implementing this doctrine? Without a ratified treaty, our leadership has bypassed Congress and proceeded to economically rape this country in order to satisfy the power-mad on the global stage. Once economically broken, once resources are out of the hands of citizens, once herded into mega-regions into high density enclaves, our American sovereignty is gone. Global Marxism has been marching right into our lives, without our permission, through our own government, for years now...under obfuscated idyllic names meant to entice the unsuspecting. 

So this is all bunk and people are crazy? When the utility company puts that Smart Meter on your house and charges you higher rates to monitor all of your energy use in real time, maybe you'll begin to ask those questions. But that would be too late, now wouldn't it? 

What is crazy is denying reality.  

Links & info:

Agenda 21- UN site

Our Common Future

WH Rural Council (Basically an executive order for Federal agencies to take over all aspects of rural America, all the while talking about improving quality of life, putting people back to work, et al.) 

Clinton's PCSD"

Public Private Partnerships

(Interesting to note all of the Clinton PCSD pages have been updated to say "Climate Change" instead of "Global Warming."  This indicates to me that the PCSD initiatives are operating today even though Clinton has been out of office for what....13 yrs. now? )

Clinton's Climate Change Task Force

1. Working Group on Economic, Regulatory, and Voluntary Measures. This group examined a broad range of economic instruments, regulatory approaches, and voluntary steps that could be taken to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. These could include tradeable permits; tax credits/deductions for investing in improved technologies; carbon taxes; mitigation measures for economic or regional dislocations; partnerships among the investment and insurance communities, government, and industry; various regulatory approaches; and voluntary initiatives. Working Group Tri-chairs: Environmental Defense Fund, BP America,U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

CARBON NUTS - TULIP MANIA - MONEY FOR NOTHING

My mother, who had good points and bad, was very good at throwing out adages at appropriate times when I was a child.  She sort of left me to figure them out on my own.  I'd ask myself, "What do you suppose she meant by that?"  One of the things she often said was, "There is nothing new under the Sun."  God bless her soul and hopefully she is resting in peace. She was an impatient mother.  She  had an air of authority that said, "Don't question me, I know what I'm talking about."  Later, I would go on about my life when those adages would pop back into my mind and I would then say to myself, "Oh, that's what she meant by that."  Today is one of those days.  I was reminded of this by someone who made a comment at WattsUpWithThat.  The article was regarding the carbon credit market crashing and the comment was regarding something called Tulip Mania.  Up popped my mother again, "There is nothing new under the Sun."

According to the Wikipedia encyclopedia, Tulip Mania is a marketing craze over tulips that took place in the 1600's.  Part of the description of Tulip Mania says this:  "The term "tulip mania" is now often used metaphorically to refer to any large economic bubble (when asset prices deviate from intrinsic values.^" 

^{That pretty much describes a craze of no substance, which is what carbon trading is; no substance.  Which took me back to Enron.  Isn't carbon trading fraud what the Enron debacle was about?  Power and Control Blog}

How about a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade program? The problem was that CO2 is not a pollutant, and therefore the EPA had no authority to cap its emission. Al Gore took office in 1993 and almost immediately became infatuated with the idea of an international environmental regulatory regime. He led a U.S. initiative to review new projects around the world and issue ‘credits’ of so many tons of annual CO2 emission reduction. Under law a tradeable system was required, which was exactly what Enron also wanted because they were already trading pollutant credits.

Thence Enron vigorously lobbied Clinton and Congress, seeking EPA regulatory authority over CO2. From 1994 to 1996, the Enron Foundation contributed nearly $1 million dollars - $990,000 - to the Nature Conservancy, whose Climate Change Project promotes global warming theories. Enron philanthropists lavished almost $1.5 million on environmental groups that support international energy controls to “reduce” global warming. Executives at Enron worked closely with the Clinton administration to help create a scaremongering climate science environment because the company believed the treaty could provide it with a monstrous financial windfall. The plan was that once the problem was in place the solution would be trotted out.

^{But I digress.}

^{The reason I am writing about this now (and again) is because it is all tied into the fraud the environmentalists, energy companies, and government are perpetrating on the public in the form of forced carbon reduction through taxing, tax incentives, and Smart Meters.}  

^{As I go about educating myself and hopefully my readers on these subjects, I can tend to get sidetracked a bit when I come across some tangential information.  That happened today when I came across a great site with a timeline history of money.  As I read through it, I was instantly fascinated by the creation of money out of thin air.  Which is what carbon credits are exactly; creating money out of thin air.  It was interesting to find that "money changers" established the first central bank in the Netherlands in 1609, which is just before the timeline on Tulip Mania.}

^{This post may seem like a stream of consciousness, moving back and forth from my mother to carbon trading schemes, to Tulip Mania, to "the money changers."    That is where my mind went today.  Connecting the dots throughout.  History is a great teacher.}   

^{Our legislators and elected officials, (read from Presidents on down through the entire chain of government) have been corrupt and derelict in their duties to protect the public from such frauds.  Worse than complicit, they are perpetrating the frauds.  The American public (That means you and I) are going to have to wake up and clean house.   I'm sick of this.  You are, too.  Just remember, we aren't the first generation to be scammed and ruined by "money changers."  We are just the latest.  It could be the end of America this time.  In the past, countries have been ruined.  The difference today is we have communication tools that allow the public to seek and find the truth.}  

^{Side Notes:}

^{Please go to the sites on my side bar for the best information on Climate Change truth.  Climate Depot, WattsUpWithThat, Al Fin, and several others are diligently getting the truth out there for you.  Every time you see another policy being set in place that relates to Climate Change (Smart Meters would be one, anything "green" would qualify) or redistribution of wealth based on "regional" land use, PLEASE go after your local, state, and national representatives.  Tell them NO.  Not just NO, but HELL NO.}

 

CLIMATE CHANGE EQUALS MONEY .....PERIOD

Dear Fellow American,

Climate Change equals money.

That's all it is. Money. Green is not environmental. Green is greed. All of those draconian regulations and tax incentives are about money, not our environment. I hate to break it to you. Especially if you are one of those heartstrings-pulling greenies who just wants to save the swamp for the alligators and the forest for the owls. But it isn't about owls and alligators. It's about the transfer of property and wealth. And you got sucked into it because you thought it was some altruistic plan to save the earth.

So let's start all over again from the top.
A bunch of United Nations power hungry zealots got together with some global environmentalists over two decades ago and figured out how they could soak the public by scaring everyone to death with a climate message, i.e. that all of us bad humans are wrecking the earth's climate because we eat and breathe and use resources for shelter, energy, and some creature comforts. They figured out if they could just make people feel guilty enough, scare people enough, and use every act of nature as evidence, they could start taking the bribes from everyone. Whoo hoo! What a great idea. So they grabbed the film industry, the media, the politicians at all levels of government, the American Planning Association, corporations, non-profits, the education system, the churches, and every other institution who would join in the scam for money. And it was going along at a pretty good clip until we all found out the IPCC scientists were lying to get grant money from the UN and all of the governments donating to the UN. Oops. Now what.

Not to be deterred, they are clinging to the lie like a tick on a dog. They won't let go. They already put the revenue stream in place over these many years and it's just now, the last ten years or so, beginning to actually ruin people's lives and financially ruin the United States of America. But no matter, as long as the players involved get the MONEY.

They thought up cap and trade, the scam to sell carbon credits. That didn't fly very well. They have thought up the land conservancy scam. Unfortunately, that one is still actively percolating. They thought up RFID chips in recycling bins. They thought up "Smart Meters" for your house. They thought up "Smart Growth" for your city. They thought up "Green Build" for the architecture industry. They thought up electric cars and GPS monitoring of how many miles you drive. They thought up squirrelly CFL light bulbs and handed GE tax free status. They thought up windmills killing birds. They thought up solar panels no one can afford. They thought up using corn for ethanol. They thought up methane studies for cows. They thought up greenways and bike lanes. They thought up Cash for Caulkers. They thought up land banks. They handed out non-profit status to everyone and anyone promoting "green" anything. And all the while, the U.S. government is going straight down the tubes financially while we are funding all of this insanity based on lies from the IPCC, Al Gore, and whoever else stands to gain....MONEY.

They figured out how to make states and local governments buy in through offering federal grants. They figured out how to bribe politicians with campaign funds and foundations. They figured out how to put energy stars on appliances. That worked so well, they have now figured out how to give "stars" to local governments who comply with the draconian regulations, property takings, and stupid declarations of how "green" they are.

And as if you thought it was about the environment, it also became a vehicle for diversity. Obama brought on Van Jones to start up a green jobs program...only for people of color, mind you. Reparations comes in a new color! "Green." You see it isn't about saving the environment at all. To Obama, it is an excuse to keep white people out of the revenue stream by hiring blacks and browns and unions for the "green" jobs.

You don't honestly think Clinton, two Bushes, and Obama actually are sick with worry over the environment, now do you? What would tweak their cooperation do you think? Would it be power and money? Oh, no. Not our Presidents. They wouldn't be enticed by power and money, now would they??

The "green" corporate / government industry has grown so huge by now that it will take a massive amputation to cut out the gangrene infecting the country.

AL FIN has the latest information on the science.

"Massive redistribution-of-wealth schemes have somehow become tied to the global warming agenda at the highest levels of government and inter-government. Literally $trillions are on the table in this high stakes game of faux environmental poker. And yet the basis of all of this hoopla! -- alarmist climate models -- are seemingly not ready for prime time. What is worse, the very ground-level data which is fed into climate models is unreliable."

So, I'm sorry to break it to you, but we've been had. Actually, you've been had. I've been soaked. And so has every tax payer in America. When they come to put the Smart Meter on your house, and the micro-chip in your recycling bin, I hope you'll remember to tell them you are very sorry you helped lay the groundwork for the largest heist ever taken place in the world.

Yours truly,
Cheryl A. Pass

LAND BANKING, VIEWSHEDS, & STAKEHOLDERS - Part III

I'm a little out of sequence here, according to my title. I saved "Viewsheds" for last. The concept of "Viewsheds" is a bit of a dilemma. All things being subjective in the the realm of aesthetics, your idea of a "Viewshed" might be different than mine. No one wants to look at an eyesore, but your eyesore might be my gemstone, or my livelihood. I'm all for beautiful vistas and scenic enjoyment. However, I'm all for private property rights. So how does one combine those two things and come up with a coherent policy that is good for all? Common sense would prevail, or one would hope so.

The concept of "Viewsheds" is new to American jargon. MerriamWebsterDictionary Defined as: "The natural environment that is visable from one or more viewing points." First known use is 1981.

My how justification expands quickly in today's environmentalists' methods and ideology. The Urban Dictionary states:
"A viewshed is an area of land, water, or other environmental element that is visible to the human eye from a fixed vantage point. The term is used widely in such areas as urban planning, archaeology, and military science. In urban planning, for example, viewsheds tend to be areas of particular scenic or historic value that are deemed worthy of preservation against development or other change. Viewsheds are often spaces that are readily visible from public areas such as from public roadways, public parks or high-rise buildings. The preservation of viewsheds is frequently a goal in the designation of open space areas, green belts, and community separators.

Isn't that nice? From 1981 to 2011, in thirty years, someone's idea of expanding land use controls that have nothing to do with private property rights has blossomed into an entire philosophy of radical land usurpation for the sake of "Views."

For purposes of illustration I came across a document describing the dilemma regarding Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, VA. I've been there. I loved it. It was wonderful to see it and learn from it. But the area now has a "Comprehensive Land Use Plan." And Monticello has a foundation to advocate for its preservation.

The view from Monticello to the east and the south overlook a vast piedmont landscape into Fluvanna County. A power plant was planned for construction in that area. This power plant involved natural gas and would connect with the national power grid. The power plant would benefit a lot of people.

"The Foundation responded that the lights and the plumes atop those smokestacks could be visible from Monticello. “Depending on the weather sometimes you can see 50 miles from the hilltop. In a rural area, eight or 10 miles is in the neighborhood.”

If I read that right, The Monticello Foundation wants to control all of the land within 50 miles of eyesight from Monticello. 50 miles of land for the purpose of scenic views. The article also refers to yet another environmental designation attaching to another new Federal idea called the Rural Historic District. RHD. The RHD means more layers of regulation of land use. Well, if you look at all of the land left in the country that is not under the control of cities, you could just put all rural land under an RHD. After all, could you not make the case that the entire country is a RHD? It was historically all rural at one point. But I digress.

We have a similar situation arising here in Gaston County. There is a State Park at Crowders Mountain, from which, once climbing to the top, you can see for miles. In fact you can see all the way to Charlotte, NC on a clear day. Now the environmentalist lobby is trying to keep development out of the line of sight from any viewing position on Crowders Mountain. How many miles should be kept out of development for the sake of the "Viewsheds?" The question of Crowders Mountain "Viewshed" is not yet settled, but the wording in "Vision" plans is clear. "Viewsheds" are to be taken into consideration and given priority over development. Check your local "Vision Plan" and you will find it so.

I guess the amazing thing to me is that once the environmentalists in America realized they could trash property rights by controlling the use of land, they then figured out they could expand that control by demanding "Viewshed" rights. There is no end in sight to their environmental fanaticism. Pun intended.

I'm not sure I have a good solution. Perhaps one should limit the distance of "View" in question. How far should "View" rights extend? If you own a residence in a "scenic" community, can you not just claim "View" rights based on the RHD and demand all other comers take a back seat to your new "government granted rights" that, by the way are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?? Then again, when it is truly historical, such as Monticello or Mt. Vernon, or Gettysburg, what is reasonable? Is your "View" a right?

Welcome to the new Amerika, where rights are granted by government and special interest groups, instead of the rights granted by our Creator.

LAND BANKING, VIEWSHEDS, & STAKEHOLDERS - Part II

I attended a Municipal Planning Board (MPO) hearing the other night for the purpose of observing and trying to get a handle on what is going on behind the scenes in our government. My motivation is a degree of shock and outrage at how much of our government has gone behind the curtain, so to speak. While the meeting was advertised in the classified section 10 days beforehand, and stated it was open to the public, I think the mass public is very unaware of how boards such as this one operate and who is calling the shots. I was one of only three citizens who went to this MPO meeting to observe. I report that there was little to no opportunity to address the board on any issue they discussed. It was a fait á complit.

The MPO board is appointed and unpaid. They make decisions on what roads and development may be allowed in our area. And then they send their recommendations on to the State DOT or whichever agency in the State government that would have jurisdiction over the requested development or road. Supposedly these are "recommendations." Supposedly these are not "cut in stone" decisions. Supposedly, once the State has blessed the recommendations, the issue comes back to our city council or county commissioners for further blessings. None of the issues before this board ever come to the public on a ballot for referendum, but all of the issues require the use of taxpayer money.

Sitting on this board are a few local elected officials who volunteer their time to attend, just enough to give the board some local "elected" credibility. There are a few government agency bureaucrats on the board. Also, sitting on this board are developers, those who want the board to bless their development activities. The members of this board are known as "stakeholders." Supposedly "stakeholders" are citizens who have a vested interest in the outcome of government actions.

Stakeholders. Hmmmmm....who are "Stakeholders?" Time was when "stakeholders" in America were voters. They approved or disapproved their "stake" by voting on for specific issues and elected officials. Not any more. "Stakeholders" are now those who are appointed to boards who make the decisions on specific issues. They are appointed to those boards by those who want the boards to mime the same ideology as those who appoint them. In short, it is a crony system where like-minded people appoint like-minded people to override and circumvent the voters. And so far it is very successfully doing exactly what the like-minded want this system to do....rubber stamp the goals of the few over the wishes of the masses.

Stakeholder boards are another hallmark of the Soviet System. Michael Shaw Explains "At a young age I learned that a "soviet" was a system of interconnected councils that work to destroy individual personality, suppress individual potential, and centralize power into the hands of those who seek to control human action and human production."

"The Definition of a Soviet:

• A soviet is a system of councils that report to an apex council and implement a predetermined outcome, often by consensus, affecting a region or neighborhood.
  
• Members of a soviet council are chosen by virtue of their willingness to comply with that outcome and their one-mindedness with the group
  
• Soviets are the operating mechanism of a government-controlled economy, whether it be socialism or government-corporate ("public-private") partnerships"

In our area in central North Carolina alone we have multiple unelected Soviet councils. There is the Centralina Council of Governments (CCOG). There is the Unified Development Organization (UDO). There is the Municipal Planning Organization (MPO). There is the Economic Development Council (EDC). Under the actual city council resides the Stormwater Runoff Committee. There is the Citizens Advisory Committee. There is the Clean City Board. There is the Gaston County Restructuring Committee. There is Gaston Together. There is the Historic Preservation Committee. There is the Uptown Revitalization Committee. Of course on top of these you have the usual Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Rotary Club groups. Then you have countless environmental groups who have emerged over the last few years. The River Keepers being the first one to pop into my head. The Carolina Thread Trail is another.

Groups of committees all vying for the favors of government to suit their own goals. Well, O.k. fine, but this involves more than just petitioning the government for grievances or favors. This involves groups forming what they call "consensus," when in fact they are a bunch of fractured special interest groups who are not representing "consensus" at all.

In America's founding documents, the true stakeholders of our country are the citizens. The Constitution does not say that some well-connected, appointed, few are the deciders of the fate of our citizens. Through our elected representatives, we, as citizens, hold the keys to our own policy decisions. At least that is the promise of our America.

Now comes a structure into our country that we Americans do not recognize as legitimate, but is so flattering to some egotistical and corrupt power hungry citizens that they are participating in the destruction of our freedoms, our Constitution itself. Somewhere along the way we have created too many chiefs and not enough Indians. In other words, there are a lot of Americans sitting around wanting to be chiefs, thinking they can tell other Americans how to live and what to do without going through the electoral process.

As I write this, unelected boards with the new "stakeholders" are making decisions about our lives. If you aren't one of them, be assured these "stakeholders" are not looking out for your interest, but their own. Should you be invited to be a "stakeholder" realize you are disenfranchising the rest of your fellow Americans by participating in a process that gives them no voice. That, friends, is wrong. That is the Soviet system, not the American way. That makes you an enemy of the U.S. Constitution and no friend of mine.

Up Next: "Viewsheds"
Double Tongued Dictionary
"viewshed n. the landscape or topography visible from a geographic point, especially that having aesthetic value."

YOUR CHURCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE?

And what exactly is Environmental Justice, please do tell us?
Wikipedia definition

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines EJ as follows:

"Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work."^[5]

The United States Department of Transportation defines three fundamental EJ principles for the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration as follows:

"1) To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations. 2) To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process. 3) To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations."^[6]

Suddenly we have government agencies redefining the guarantees already given in our Constitution. The EPA and DOT have weighed in with their versions. A funny thing though, our Constitution already gives citizens of the U.S. equal protection, so why are these agencies defining something called Environmental Justice? Why don't we have "Clothing Justice?" Well then, why don't we have "Food Justice?" Oh, wait, they are working on those, too. But I digress.

So as I was researching some other unrelated topic the other day, up popped a site called National Religious Partnerships for the Environment Seems Environmental Justice is now something our religious organizations have joined. Hmmm...that's funny, because Environmentalism is already a religion.

As I looked further into this phenom, I found out that this has been inching its way into American religious life for some years now. Interestingly enough, the founding of this organization coincides with the UN doctrine of Agenda 21. It appears to have cropped up just the same year that Bill Clinton established the "President's Council on Sustainable Development. Isn't that a coincidence? Seems churches have figured out a way to glom onto the most trendy fashion of the day which requires Sustainability according to the UN's Agenda 21, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, the Obama administration, the Sierra Club, Smart Growth, the American Planning Association, the EPA, DOT, HUD, multiple government agencies, and countless other non-profit and for-profit groups, ad infinitum.

So what's my problem, you might ask. Two problems, actually.

The first is the confluence of the church with political exploitation. I was raised a Methodist and have also been a member of the Presbyterian Church at one time. During my Christian education I was not taught to trash the earth, but in the contrary, to respect the God's creations and do my best to take care of them. I was also taught these lessons from my parents. In all of my life it never occurs to me to do anything but respect nature. If I kill a copperhead, I am doing it with all due respect to the damage it can do to me and my family. If I shelter an injured bird or usher a box turtle across the road, I do it because I respect nature and appreciate what is good. If I pull a weed I am trying to protect the useful plants that weed would choke to death.

The churches I attended were concerned about getting across the word of God, not the word of the UN or the Sierra Club. Now, apparently, the word of God is not enough. The churches have decided they will use the environmentalists to interpret the word of God into a political message. And vice versa. Environmentalists are using the churches to advocate a political theology. And this political theology is not the word of God, but a modern usurpation of the word of God to suit a political agenda.

The second is the idea of turning religion into a control mechanism for our government. Which may seem a conundrum because I do believe our laws are based on Mosaic law and that is fine with me. And further, I am completely against putting Sharia law into our society. So how do I resolve that? Here's how: free will. There is nothing about Sustainable Development that allows for free will. There is nothing about environmental justice that actually works under the word of God which gives us free will. Why? Because environmental justice is about theft and about control. It is, as B. Obama says, "spreading the wealth around," albeit by government fiat. It is about Marxism under the trendy name of environmental justice. This is, as I understand the word of God, the antithesis of free will and individual salvation.

I would also add that the word "justice" heretofore in America referred to our actual legal system. Now the word is abominated to mean that churches are involved in acting out "justice," along with the EPA, DOT, HUD, and all the above mentioned depts. and orgs. So everyone involved is thinking they are implementing "justice?" Doesn't that just massage the egos of people who wish to control other people. (rhetorical statement, not a question.) Excuse me? (Suddenly I am reminded of an old Laugh In routine by Sammy Davis Jr. called, "Here come da judge!") Ooh, aren't we all so sanctimonious these days?

HERE you will find a list of churches under the heading of ECO Justice Partners Maybe you'll find your church affiliation there. If so, what does that say about the church you attend? Is environmental justice your reason for going to that church? Is Sustainable Development your idea of the word of God? I wonder if you might ask yourself just where is your tithe going and did you mean for your church to be a tool of the UN, the Federal government, or what? I'll bet lots of you are the ones who yell and holler about the separation of church and state.

Great Article at Conservatives On Fire explaining Agenda 21 and Sustainability!!! Be sure to watch the video....you will understand the threat!

IMPLEMENTING AN UNRATIFIED TREATY - AGENDA 21

Is there a legal scholar out there who can help me with the issue of: Can the states, counties and cities implement an international treaty without the authorization of Congressional ratification? If you are out there, I'd love to hear from you.

As I have been trying to figure out the key to stopping the insanity of Agenda 21 - Sustainable Development - Smart Growth, a reader sent me an interesting proposition regarding the illegality of implementing these Agenda 21 / Rio Climate Treaty tenets without the ratification by our Congress. The reader asserts that because the Treaty was never ratified, the states, counties and cities are illegally adopting the Treaty anyway. I agree. However, I'm not sure what legal standing the people have to stop this insanity.

There is a modern, recent, term called "Soft Law." Basically, "soft law" refers to regulations that are not founded in Constitutional law, but are put in place arbitrarily without formalization by the voters. An example of "soft law" is the adoption of a "Vision Plan" to regulate citizen activity without referendum and without the knowledge of the voters. "Soft law" is giving legislators the power to go around the voters by using "stakeholder councils," corporations, NGO's, and activist groups as evidence of some sort of consensus. Consensus is not a referendum on a ballot. The consensus achieved this way is invalid. Consensus, in this scenario, is merely achieved by putting some like-minded people in a room with a facilitator to create a false idea of what "people" want. But it is just a few people and the outcome is always what those few people want...not a representation of the voters at large. What happens then is the outcome is presented to local councils and commissioners, and even state legislators, to convince the elected officials to enact a rule or regulation that the actual mass of the voting public doesn't want or never even heard of. This is an abuse of power and an attack on the rule of law in America. It is crony politics at its worst. And the voters are left with losing liberties by the boat load while the "stakeholders" get the cream off the top of everything.

"Soft law" is exactly how Sustainable Development is being forced on the public without consent or knowledge. "Soft law" is Smart Growth zoning and regulations which completely impede the free flow of commerce and property rights. Hard law is what our nation bases our rules upon. Hard law is being ignored and, for all intents and purposes, being removed from our governmental structure.

Article from Canada Free Press On Constitutional Powers
"So! Does The Constitution grant to Congress the power to make laws respecting the reduction of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, etc. “emissions”? Is transferring wealth from Americans to “poor” nations to compensate them for our “past emissions” one of the enumerated powers of Congress? Does The Constitution grant to the Executive Branch jurisdiction over carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor?"

My questions for our legal scholar are: Are the cities, counties and states enacting an international treaty without ratification by Congress? And if so, isn't that illegal? And, if illegal, how can the voters stop and annul the offending regulations? As above, does the Congress have the power to regulate redistribution of our money on the basis of natural animal emissions or water vapor? (the majority of CO2 is water vapor)

Write to me if you have some answers for this! I'm hoping we can stop the madness through the rule of law, assuming anyone here in America still holds the Constitution as the basis for our laws.

Linked on Conservative Hideout