The Whatcom Excavator
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Who's Planning Our Lives?
    • Diminishing Property Rights
    • NGO's & Public-Private Partners
    • Agenda 21
    • Buzzwords
    • Deep Thought
    • Best Available Science
    • Best Available Humor >
      • Humor Archive
  • The DREDGE
    • Gotta See This
    • How To Dredge
  • Bulldozed
    • Eco-Activism and County Policy
    • CELDF - "Democracy"
    • ALERT: Community Energy Challenge
  • Pig Trough
    • ReSources
    • Sustainable Connections
    • BALLE
    • ICLEI
    • Whatcom County Community Network
    • Big Wheels Award
  • Contact Us

One Little Word

11/16/2014

3 Comments

 
It seems incredible, but a single missing word could turn a water law into a government land grab so horrendous even a U.S. Supreme Court justice warned it would “put the property rights of every American entirely at the mercy of Environmental Protection Agency employees.”
Picture
Oppression (you know it when you feel it)
That is the introduction to an article at The Daily Signal, about bureaucratic mission creep at the EPA. Our founders wanted our federal government to be limited, and responsive to the people. But with the rise of bureaucracy, government is neither limited nor responsive. It is unlimited and out of control. What is the word of which they speak?

The missing word is “navigable.” The Obama administration is proposing a rule titled “Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’ Under the Clean Water Act,” which would strike “navigable” from American water law and redefine any piece of land that is wet at least part of the year, no matter how remote or isolated it may be from truly navigable waters, as “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS.
Does anyone still know what it's like to live in a free country? WE grew up in one. It was nice. Some people say freedom is overrated. That control is necessary in order for a civilized society to exist. That if not for regulation, plunderers would take advantage of the weak and vulnerable. And the environment. And helpless animals. And nature. Is that really true? When have we crossed the line between protection and oppression? That's what this discussion really is about, isn't it? 

WE won't reproduce the entire article here; please click here to continue reading. 

Update: back in July 2013, WE posted this article, in which Pacific Legal Foundation won a case in the Supreme Court, related to wetlands mitigation for land disturbance - "Koontz v. St. Johns River Management District." In addition, they won a case against the EPA in the United States Supreme Court brought by a couple in Idaho, who were being harassed for wetlands violations, allegedly brought about while preparing to build their dream home on land that is only wet when it rains once in a while. 

WE believe this latest usurpation attempt is due to these losses in the Supreme Court. The EPA is trying to make these kinds of setbacks "go away". Pacific Legal has been consistent in its opinion here and here, about these kinds of overreach. 

Mission creep may be the biggest danger faced by citizens at the hands of bureaucracies. We can't appeal every one to the Supreme Court, even if we could win them all. 
3 Comments
    WE Dredge!
    Picture
    Posting Rules:
    This forum is moderated.  Please make an effort to substantiate claims that support opinion.  Gratuitous profanity and ad-hominem attacks will not be accepted.  You can create a "nickname" if you'd like, and you don't have to reveal your e-mail address.   Feel free to share information and your honest thoughts.

    Categories

    All
    Agenda 21
    Best Available Science
    Big Government
    Eco Activism
    Ethics
    Freedom
    Planning
    Property Rights
    Science
    Small Business
    Social Engineering
    Taxes
    Welcome

    Archives

    January 2022
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011


    Automatic Updates

    Do you want to be notified when new content is added to this newsfeed? Most browsers allow you to subscribe to our Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed. Click on the RSS link below, and follow the instructions.

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.