If you attended An Evening With Bill Whittle, you were there when Glen Morgan introduced the phrase, "Gang-Green and the Government Staff Infection", much to the amusement of Bill Whittle. This is what Glen was referring to:

If WE oppose environmental extremism, it doesn't mean WE don't like clean air, clean water, or a pristine legacy for future generations. However, it is wrong to criminalize normal human activities on behalf of zero-tolerance zealots. Humans need to live and prosper too. We have as much right to be here as any other species, which evolved here at the same time we did. Live and let live. (Read the article...)

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism (which subsists on tax funding) claims that “visitor center” visits were up though traffic (airport and from north of the border) was pretty sharply down during the same period. This exhibit was shown last weekend in the Bellingham Herald, and it seems to imply tourism is up:
WE seem to recall Mike McFarlane Whatcom County Parks claimed that tourism was way up too, with park visits (uses) way over a million per year.  

One of the main reasons WE found this interesting, is that 1st term County councilman Rud Browne and others keep pushing the theme that this county should become a “recreation destination”. You've heard all the hyperbole, “world class parks,” however ridiculous, whatever the expense.   WE wonder, is there any reason to believe that their fantasy represents the actual will of the people?   WE've lived here for a long time.  Dear reader, do you know many people who would say that recreation is the county’s #1 industry (industry?), or that it should be? Sure, the ski area people want the ski area to keep being what it is.  We have “summer people,” and there are a few (very few) restaurants that sell a few tourist trinkets (mugs, shirts, etc.)  But how many people honestly think this whole county could (or should) “sustain” itself on tourism? Was there a vote?  

We have hordes of Canadians shopping down here. What percentage of our total sales tax revenue does that represent? What about sales revenue? Even so, farming is still huge in the north county (berries & milk). If traffic (trade) follows the Canadian dollar, God help us all.   How dependent are we on that, pray tell? 

Lacking a Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Disney World (do they want to build one?), what is going to bring in people from far and wide? Mt. Baker is a fine regional ski area for locals who like to ski without the expense of traveling all the way to Whistler, Sun Valley, or Switzerland. But to make Mt. Baker a world class ski area would take massive development (development!) by capitalists and other "environmental rapists". Ditto for world class biking (mtn. biking isn't exactly an enviro-friendly proposition, and neither is hiking or horsey riding, from what WE've heard from most conservationists). 

So are these people hypocrites, dreamers, or tyrants, who want to force the citizens of Whatcom County to implement their personal dreams and asspirations with our tax dollars? We already have a mechanism for that. It's called free market capitalism, and it requires smaller government, fewer, reasonable and consistent regulations, and objective environmental science. Yeah, WE said it! Badap!

We already have people lined up to develop other things that would bring prosperity (maybe not tourism) to the area. And we already know what those things are. What's so great about tourism? People tromping through our natural habitat? Can you have successful tourism when we control every aspect of where and what the tourists can go and do?

WE don't generally wander far from local, but the PJTV Trifecta (below) caught our collective eye.  Living next to Canada makes Border Patrol a part of daily life, 24/7.  WE like having a secure border, and national security is a truly enumerated federal duty.  Knock on wood we're probably safer than people on the southern border.

But there's a another program here that few citizens are aware of - regular and totally "un-warranted" photo surveillance that Whatcom County (and a slew of partner agencies) engage in on a regular basis.  This aerial surveillance now being done using Pictometry.  What once was merely "mapping" is something very invasive.

Pictometry is not garden variety aerial photography for mapping and measuring for public work.  Using airplanes, look-down and oblique photos are taken regularly and then compared to prior images using a specialized computer program to watch for changes, to see what people are doing.  Boy, if that doesn't fit the definition of "surveillance" WE don't know what does.

Who's watching?  All kinds of agencies are (see list after this paragraph), including the Lummi tribe. The whole purpose is to actively snoop on citizen activity, peering at everyone's home, yard, or farm by taking oblique photos periodically without having to establish "probable cause" or get a warrant.  If the Pictometry computer program flags some perceived activity or change to your property (from a long list of options)  you're subject to further investigation, or maybe even a knock on the door.  Who's privy to what extent of the photo bank isn't clear.  Do they all share everything?  Is there any protection from abuse?  Most importantly, is this much un-warranted surveillance justified?  What would a court say if a citizen objected?

Those involved:  Whatcom County (numerous departments), City of Bellingham, the Housing Authority, Blaine, Everson, Lynden, Sumas, PUD #1, the Conservation District, the "Council of Governments", the WTA, Lummi Nation, Ferndale, Lk Whatcom WAter & Sewer (and who knows how many more - the feds too?)

There were no public hearings about the adoption or expansion and continuation of this program.  There's never been a chance for the citizenry to weigh in over a number of years (4 or 5).  Pictometry is being renewed for 2015 (and perhaps longer), it was in the county budget.  For a taste of the terms, look at this agreement and a truckload more here.

And are these pictures public records?  Will "the people" be permitted to "see" the pictures and reports - Pictometry "product" - that our public servants see?  Not a chance. WE have good reason to expect access to be denied (records withheld) "to protect citizens privacy" (!) if you could believe the hypocrisy of such an oxymoronic excuse. These photos and reports ("product") is being held in the hands of a very tight circle of "interests."  Carefully read this stock clause in all of the Pictometry agreements:

How does all that cozy vendor-agency protection square with the Public Records Act, which says: