Handcuffing The EPA

The power to tax is the power to destroy, and few have more power these days than the Environmental Protection Agency.

Through excessive taxation and regulation, including environmental fees, the government, while not wishing to own your property outright, increasingly controls the utilization of your real and personal property . While the greater majority of these actions are presented as needed effort to limit man made damage to Global Climate Change, the reality is it is a vehicle for the transfer of wealth and control over the citizenry, with particular emphasis on energy and environmental protection, both of which affect property owners.

These are tenants involved in the evil globalist Agenda 21, newly labeled as Agenda 2030.

With the new appointments under President Trump, these illegal encroachments on the citizenry are about to cease, increasing freedom and liberty for all.

Meltdown at the EPA via National Review

All Rights, Most Notably Property Rights, Are Under Assault

First, under the "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule, which was issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development last year, we noted an extensive web of restrictions of property rights.

Now comes word of a National Zoning Board, no doubt part of a wide spread attack on white flight.

"This new regulation is designed to give unelected, anonymous bureaucrats in Washington the power to pick and choose who your new next-door neighbor will be. If they don’t believe your neighborhood is “diverse” enough, they will seize control of local zoning decisions—choosing what should be built, where, and who should pay for it—in order to make your neighborhood look more like they want it to" wrote Sen. Mike Lee (R:UT) in a column printed in The Daily Signal.

Rush Limbaugh recently discussed an FHA action requiring landlords to not restrict felons from renting units as it "may make them feel discriminated against."

“The Fair Housing Act prohibits both intentional housing discrimination and housing practices that have an unjustified discriminatory effect because of race, national origin, or other protected characteristics,” read the newly released guideline from HUD Secretary Julian Castro.

Limbaugh further noted “What do you think the penalty’s gonna be to the landlords that fail to follow Obama’s dictates and rent rooms to criminals?” Limbaugh asked. “You don’t think they’re gonna be able to come in and make the play for your land, for your property, absconding it, claiming that you are misusing it or what have you?”

Under the Obama administration, seemingly all the rights of the people are under some form of duress. Religious liberty is front and center. The current nonsensical dust up over Transgender bathrooms, which centers around an individual being able to declare their status, chips away at the decision already made by God.  Free speech, gun rights and regulatory encroachment in communications, labor, finance, surveillance, and environmental arenas are examples of government infiltration in the liberty and freedom of the citizenry.

However, we deem the attack on property rights most alarming. There are far reaching tentacles from actions undertaken, and all are attempting to reach the same goal; for the government to take control of private property away from the citizenry.

“You know what this is really all about?” Limbaugh asked his audience. “You have a landlord that refuses to rent to a criminal, Obama says, ‘No, no, no, you have to because our racial justice system’s been so unbalanced, you’re guilty of racism when you refuse to rent,’ you know what that’s really all about is seizing your property,” he explained.



As famed progressive Stuart Chase noted in his work The Road We Are Traveling; "We don't want to own your property, just control what you can do with it."

Private property ownership, and the rights associated therein, are under direct assault from the tyrannical Obama administration as part of their efforts of transforming America and engaging in the transfer of wealth.

Property rights are without question central to the freedoms of our nation, and must be protected at all legally permissible costs. All our Constitutional Rights must be protected at all legally permissible costs.

As they continue to erode, we must ask at what point will you have had enough?

Assualt on Private Property Ownership Lurks In The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule

Private property ownership is under direct assault from the tyrannical Obama administration as part of their efforts of transforming America and engaging in the transfer of wealth.

Property rights are without question central to the freedoms of our nation, and must be protected at all legally permissible costs. "Private property ownership is the path to building wealth and eliminating poverty".

"America became the wealthiest nation on earth in a very short time precisely because of the ability of every American to own and control their own property. Ownership produces equity – that is a process to build wealth".

It is noted HUD Secretary Julian Castro, who is high on the Democrat VP list, is a major player in these efforts and someone who places little value on property rights and individual freedom.

Private Property Ownership – the First American Right To Die Under Barack Obama’s Tyranny

We All Want To See The Plan

When conservatives are in power, government strives to cultivate free markets and empower the individual with limited taxation and regulation.  In the spirit of Adam Smith, a moral compass is a requirement for optimal market efficiency, with those who violate common decency guidelines quickly defeated in the open market.

With progressives in positions of power, due to perceived lack of confidence in the individual, government seeks, in the name of seemingly good ideas and worthwhile initiatives, to diminish individual power and freedom by increasing the role of government in the marketplace.

An illustrative example may be identified on this day while many celebrated Earth Day.  Seemingly worthwhile and innocent regulatory actions for the perceived good of the environment actually place increasing limitations individual property rights and escalate numerous forms of costs for property owners.

Another example is an extremely nefarious piece of legislation, seemingly vague and harmless in its cloaking presentation, which if passed, will challenge our Constitutional rights by an endless erosion of the rights of free speech.

The piece of legislation, “The Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014″ (S.2219), is sponsored, in their arrogance, by Democrats Ed Markey of Massachusetts in the Senate and Hakeem Jeffries of New York in the House of Representatives.  The bill seeks:

"To require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to update a report on the role of telecommunications, including the Internet, in the commission of hate crimes".

Let us look at the opening sentence of the bill we outlined above. Who is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and what would be considered their mission statement?  Why not, let us check Wikipedia.

In review of the stated goals of the agency, while much of it seems unnecessary, it follows a logical process for our government during these times with respect to utilization and growth of global communications. Investigatory actions with respect to any form of criminology was not identified within the agency tasks and they appear to have no such legal authority.

So, exactly why are we attempting to travel down this road? Are these two legislators seeking additional power for their personal resumes or are they sponsoring legislation as a front tentacle for a web of enacting widespread governmental control over what is exactly able to be communicated over the Internet?  The distinctions are critically important.

Tying their bill to this week's alleged white supremacist shootings in Kansas, Markey says it is "critical to ensure the internet, television and radio are not encouraging hate crimes or hate speech." He brushes aside expected First Amendment arguments, saying "criminal and hateful activity" aren't covered by the Constitution. HT/Inside Radio.

At quick glance, the bill seems to have merit. After all, who does not want individuals who engage in the commission of hate crimes to be punished to the fullest extent of the law?

However, if law, it would allow a non-elected bureaucrat to cast a wide net in search of such violators, trampling over the first amendment rights of the citizenry in a typical progressive power grab. However, with progressives, as we have learned all too well, the issue is never the issue, and this legislation is no different.

Those who recognize what is actually at play here are appalled by the legislation, including political pundits from opposing sides, ranging from Alan Colmes to Glenn Beck.

The legislation is a back door attack on freedom of speech and an attempt to eliminate the power of the first amendment so that political opponents can be silenced.  The administration is working this angle from many fronts, most notably through the IRS, one of many current scandals engulfing the administration.

Think I am kidding?


Mark Lloyd

We need to take a moment to learn more about an early appointee by President Obama, Diversity Czar, Mark Lloyd.  Investors Business Daily, in an editorial in August of 2009, accurately depicted Lloyd as a disciple of Saul Alinsky and a great admirer of Hugo Chavez, who silenced freedom of speech as a dictator in Venezuela.  SOS Venezuela!

IBD references Glenn Beck, who points out Lloyd, in his 2006 book, "Prologue to a Farce: Communication and Democracy in America," wrote: "It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. ... This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. ... At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies."

Alarmed yet? With Lloyd unleashed to implement his ideas, we would have the Fairness Doctrine on steroids.

David Horowitz, over at his Discover the Networks website, noted the following regarding Lloyd:

*Seeks to use "diversity" and "localism" as pretexts for shifting the political balance of talk-radio programming leftward.
*Suggests that private broadcasters should pay an annual licensing fee in an amount equivalent to their total yearly operating costs; that money, in turn, should be redistributed to public broadcasting stations.
*Opposes virtually any private ownership of media.
*Disciple of Saul Alinsky's tactics for revolutionary social change.
* Greatly admires Venezuela's Marxist President, Hugo Chavez.

So, we can conclude that, with respect to media operations, Lloyd much prefers governmental control of media outlets, vehemently opposing media outlets operating in the private sector. And much like his mentor Hugo Chavez, Lloyd thinks the government should determine what can be voiced or written on the said media outlets.

Would Lloyd, and those charged with implementation of the Markey-Jeffries bill, apply equal governance over The Huffinton Post as they would The Drudge Report?  As John Lennon of The Beatles wrote in Revolution, "well, you know, we'd all love to see the plan".  TRUST NO ONE!

The shooting Senator Markey referred to in Kansas City was undertaken by a deranged individual, who was white supremacist.  His antics had nothing to do with what radio station he listened to, or which political figure he admired.  He was not a man of principle and character, but an individaul who violated the law and must be judged by a jury of his peers.  God will be the ultimate judge.

Senator Markey utilizing this crime as a motive for him crafting the bill is a smokescreen.  While the bill itself seeks to contain the first amendment, tying the Kansas City shooting to it places cards on the table in the effort to increase gun control, an attack on the second amendment.

These progressive elites think their thought processes, enacted in governance, are superior to those of our founding fathers.  Imagine, for a moment, the arrogance.

Those seeking to curtail freedom of speech, as has been the case throughout history, are opponents of liberty.  In most cases, these efforts were masked under some presentation of the action having been implemented for some greater good.  Historically, it has worked oh so well.

HT/Tea Party Command Center

Senator Markey and Representative Jeffries, likely under direction of others, moved forward with the bill as one of many avenues to attack the first amendment.  I will let you decide if you think they fail to see the "real plan" or are among the players who are actively seeking limitations of your freedoms outlined in the Constitution.

I have seen the plan. I'll go with the latter.

The Way To Kill A Killer

For now, it looks like the heat surrounding a very tense standoff in southern Nevada over farm land grazing rights has cooled down. 

The standoff, between rancher Cliven Bundy and The Bureau of Land Management, quickly escalated to the point where violence was knocking on the front door.  There were a host full of players, many of whom did not have a legitimate dog in the hunt, and most were looking for trouble.

Thankfully, a violent eruption of lost tempers did not rule the day, or we potentially could have had another Waco or Ruby Ridge situation on our hands.

Legally, the case is somewhat complex, involving conflicts between state and federal laws. It would have been a good case for Jarrod Barkley, Esquire, of Stockton, CA were he still in practice.

Certainly, I do not have the scorecard filled out on this battle, but I have drawn some conclusions, and they are as follows:

Cliven Bundy

*I have heard interviews with Cliven Bundy and he seems like a good natured fellow.  He does sort of give off the vibe of a "sovereign citizen", but I think he just wants to ranch his land and has had it up to his eyeballs with the federal government increasing regulations and encroaching their influence of his business dealings.  Join the club.

*Some people claiming to be Bundy supporters agree with his position, but are looking to create a disturbance, hoping for violence to erupt so they can gage battle with the government.  The retired Sheriff, a complete moron, who wanted to put women and children at the front of the line should shooting occur, comes to mind. 

*Bundy appears to be in arrears regarding grazing fees. I pay my taxes and regualtory fees, and I would expect him to do the same.

The people hoping for violence should recall that the government is hoping for civil unrest, as it offers opportunities to increase power.  The correct way to win these issues is to follow the path of Dr. Martin Luther King, an exemplary example of leadership in grievances against an oppressive government.

*Sen. Harry Reid, D:NV, a despicable individual, has labeled all those who side with Bundy as "domestic terrorists".  Well, that may include me.  Sen. Reid says it is not over, and people just can't go around breaking the law going unpunished.  Unless maybe you work for the IRS.

*It is worth noting the government, in contesting the Bundy family at the ranch, may as well of retained the US Army, given the man power, weaponry and vehicles that ascended upon the ranch.  We cannot secure our southern border but we can unleash untold armory to get the Bundy family.

*Evidence has turned up that the BLM has killed some of the cows owned by Bundy.  I did not hear of an anthrax breakout, so the killing of his cattle is nothing more than an act of intimidation.  This is not the behavior I would be in support of my elected governmental officials being engaged in.

*It also seems the government attempted to reduce the amount of acreage Bundy could utilize, which due to the large amount needed for cattle grazing, would have essentially put Bundy out of business as he was currently engaged.

Certainly we know, particularly under President Obama, is strongly overreaching when it comes to property rights.  The EPA is out of control, but their actions appear to be the tip of the iceberg.

We have previously written about Agenda 21, an evil platform of ideas which attack the sovereignty of the United States and viciously encroach upon the property rights of our citizens. An outreach of wealth transformation, the tentacles of Agenda 21 reach Orwellian levels.

But are these ideas new.  Stuart Chase, in his 1942 book "The Road We Are Traveling", noted the transfer from the free enterprise system to a system deemed "X".  Nineteen characteristics were noted, but number 17 described control of industry without ownership. 

This includes property, where, although they do not own your property, through items like permitting, energy control "smart meters" and water usage they control what you can do with it.  For example, for the new buyer of your home to get financing through the government controlled banks, your home must be energy efficient, with items like roof covering, HVAC and windows meeting newly established guidelines.  Seems like encroachment of property rights to me.

With the progressives, we know that the issue, in this case Bundy and his ranch, is never the issue. What is the issue?  Is it the government is aiming to seize private property of citizens under Agenda 21 protocol?  Or, God forbid, are we so broke we are positioning ourselves for negotiation with China as we recently saw Ecuador involved in?

We must put government back in its place, but engaging in violence with them on a ranch in southern Nevada is not the time or place.  Sen. Rand Paul has legislation he claims would go a long way in solving this dispute; however, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will not allow it to be heard or brought up for vote.

Does Sen. Reid want the problem solved in a way the people approve of, or is he hoping for violence to erupt so he can seize more control of the people? Was his heightened rhetoric calling those who disagree with him "domestic terrorists" an effort to put gas on the fire?

The answer to this problem has one word: freedom.  While this country has laws which must be followed and legal taxation we must pay for our society to adequately function, government over reaching their authority and intimidating the citizenry. Those seeking to limit freedom, and at the end of the day that seems to be what is going on at the Bundy ranch, should be defeated.

Non violent avenues, such as the legislation put forth by Sen. Paul and others, is the way to achieve these goals.  Sprinting to the voting booth at your earliest opportunity helps as well.  That is how we kill the political careers of those who seek to kill freedom for the citizenry.

Something In The Air

The college football season has been tremendous this year, from outstanding Color & Pageantry to fantastic finishes.  There have been several Hail Mary touchdowns to win games, notably Nebraska taking down Northwestern in Lincoln, but nothing can compare to the Prayers In Jordan Hare, where Auburn used a miraculous reception and extremely rare return of a missed field goal, of 108 yards mind you, to win back to back games in the rugged Southeastern Conference.

 

Not to be outdone, the National Football League games on week fourteen were the most dramatic ever, with longstanding records having been broken in rapid pace. 

Matt Prater, a UCF product kicking for the Denver Broncos, broke the record for the longest field goal in NFL history, a 64 yarder.  Tom Dempsey, who kicked with club foot, set the record, which has been equaled twice since, in 1973 with the New Orleans Saints.

Among the records were the most fourth quarter lead changes and the most total touchdowns on a single day.  In the final 2:05, five scores took place exchanging the lead before Baltimore edged Minnesota with :09 left.  Miami had not won in Pittsburgh in decades, but as underdogs did so on this day. 

Barely.

The Steelers, took a page from the Cal-Berkley in the Big Game of 1982 by successfully navigating a series of laterals to score the winning touchdown, only to learn the player to hit paydirt stepped out unforced at the thirteen yard line.  The Dolphins win.
 

Let it snow.

 

Several games were played in a winter wonderland.  The dream of most every youngster, to play the game in field of covered snow, was played out on HD screens around the world for all to see.

 

Impacted games included the Minnesota Vikings at the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs at the Washington Redskins, the Atlanta Falcons at the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Dolphins, pictured below, at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PHOTO/FinSider

Nothing can compare to the game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Detroit Lions.  The conditions during the game were incredible, a wild whiteout.

PHOTO/Fansided.com

 

PHOTO/CTVNEWS.COM

 

PHOTO/EONLINE

Having followed both the collegiate game (my favorite) and The National Football League from my earliest memory some 45 seasons ago, I cannot remember searching for the pigskin in such a winter wonderland.  The whiteout got the attention of the nation, deservedly having been the topic of conversation at public schools and water coolers across the fruited plain.

Sadly, the global warming enthusiasts, who failed to find themselves in front of HD television, or for heaven sakes, in the stands of one of these contests.  In fact, on the day following the snowstorms, the administration held it first annual White House Task Force on Climate Preparedness.

As reported on Jim Hoft's Gateway Pundit, "The task force was established to advise the Obama administration “on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide that are dealing with the impacts of climate change,”

Perhaps they discussed sending some snow plows down to Dallas, who was blanketed over the weekend with ice and frigid temperatures.

Additionally, former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta, who was co founder of The Center for American Progress, has been brought in to help retrieve the sinking second term of President Obama.  Podesta will be tasked to help save Obamacare, which has turned into a catastrophe, and to, according to The Washington Post, "be broad and include climate change issues and executive actions."

The description by the Post is most troubling for those of us who see the real directive behind the actions take by our president.  Among those sounding an alarm is Rush Limbaugh, who nailed it in describing the objective of shredding the Constitution.

As such, it is important to note that global warming, or the newly defined global climate change, is not about weather.  These people have no idea if it is going to rain next Tuesday in their own back yard.  It is about governmental control, the transfer of wealth, and limitations on real property, restricting property rights under the global premise of social justice.

If it was about weather, we all could conclude given the NFL frolicking around in a winter wonderland over the weekend that the earth is not warming.  Certainly, the those pushing climate change regulatory action know it as well.

This weekend, there was something in the air.  In more ways then one.

Obamaville Sneak Attack

Welcome to Obamaville/HT The Burning Platform

This is classic.  There they are; the FBI, NSA, IRS and DOJ, waiting to hit you with a sneak attack. If you were wondering why the EPA was not pictured on a motorcycle, their representatives were traveling by foot house to house in efforts to restrict the rights of property owners in Obamaville.

With the majority of the country distracted by the guilty pleasures of life, coupled with a lack of accepting the responsibility of being an informed citizen, America has entered the greatest speed trap of all time; Obamaville.

If those whose attention has been diverted do not get straight in a hurry, we all may be trapped in a country ran by an oppressive government of central planners restricting the freedom and liberty of the citizenry. 

Please wake your neighbors up!

Road Closed

Last week, an important victory for freedom loving Americans was recorded.

Certainly, given the majority of the mainstream media has fallen to nothing short of a propaganda arm for the Obama administration, few are likely aware of a significant win of a central tenant to the founding of this nation; private property rights.

A slow creep against property rights, perhaps from back as far as ideas expressed by Stuart Chase in "The Road We Are Traveling", hit a major road block as The Supreme Court ruled in favor for the good guys in a property rights case from Orange County, Florida, which is the greater Orlando market.

We chronicled the case in a blog post earlier this year, noting the results of the case, defended by The Pacific Legal Foundation, would have significant ramifications.

The Pacific Legal Foundation gives an overview of this meaningful victory and its relation to the rights of private property owners across the fruited plain. Take a listen:



Through excessive taxation and regulation, including environmental fees, the government, while not wishing to own your property outright, increasingly controls what you can do with your property with respect to improvements. 

A recent study by the American Legislative Exchange Council reported that that the EPA has imposed “at least $13 billion in annual regulatory costs” through the “sue-and-settle” method.  As reported by The Washington Times, That approach involves environmental groups suing the EPA  for failing to meet deadlines for actions related to the Clean Air or Clean Water act, and the agency negotiating settlements on how to address the issues. The technique effectively removes states and other stakeholders from any involvement in federal environmental policy.

As we noted in a previous essay, if an ever increasing oppressive government, who already has tremendous power through code enforcement and the permitting process, can shakedown owners seeking permits to develop their owned property through imposing arbitrary fees, penalties and or taxes as a condition of obtaining permits is an extension of extraction that is unethical and unconstitutional.

A violation of the Constitution indeed!

Sadly, however, the rule of law is not always enough.  Recently, the EPA, bypassing legislation by Congress relying on executive orders, has implemented plans to increase the already unprecedented power of the scandalous agency.

While the greater majority of these actions are presented as needed effort to limit man made damage to Global Climate Change, the reality is it is a vehicle for the transfer of wealth and control over the citizenry, with particular emphasis on energy and envormnental protection, both of which affect property owners.  These are tenants involved in Agenda 21, as we previously noted.

In his writings, Stuart Chase never engaged global warming, but did discuss transforming the free enterprise system into something referred to as "X", joining the Fabian socialists into molding a society to their hearts content in the aftermath of a collapsed free market economy Cloward and Piven style.

The decision in favor of limiting the tentacles of an oppressive government from encroaching upon private property rights places a significant road block on the road the progressives are traveling.  That, of course, assumes the rule of law if adhered to, which sadly is a reach these days.

We will take any victory we can, and thanks to the strong work of The Pacific Legal Foundation, we have reason to celebrate.  Oppressionists never sleep, so tomorrow is another day.

The Rest of the Story

As an avid football fan, although I much prefer the collegiate game, I have never missed the Super Bowl, and this past Sunday was no exception. Although much of the country becomes immersed in watching and grading the commercials, this have never been more than a passing fancy for me, save the time my wife was featured in the local NBC affiliate commercial during the 1990 game.

This year, I found most were rather stupid, ineffective or downright offensive. I did like the Budweiser ad, and loved the NFL network ad featuring former Florida State star Deion Sanders. But far and away, the ad that I found most compelling was the ad for Dodge Trucks featuring longtime ABC Radio announcer Paul Harvey, a great American.

Take a listen:



I am sure you found the ad as powerful as I did. Farmers are getting the backside slap in this country today in a variety of ways, from price fixing to regulatory action, including at local levels and property rights. Some sensible measures are being taken to protect farmers, including caps on rising property tax rates.

In this environment of government encroachment advancing along seemingly every avenue of approach, I have often said owning land outright, both improved and vacant, is the best protective measure of capital.  Farming is tough; not for the faint of heart.  And while the average age of the farmer is increasing, opportunities have been presented, and famed investor Jim Rogers is and has been most bullish on the sector.

Harvey and his commentary was a favorite of many an American in the last half century, seemingly part of the fabric of our nation as media outlets grew.  Harvey's daily commentary was syndicated to over 1200 radio outlets.  People took his messages of old fashioned common sense thought to heart.

While many became acquainted with Harvey is this most recent ad, Paul Harvey had many messages for the American citizens he loved so much.  One such message, presented in 1965, is prescient today.

Take a listen:


Our country is in fact in peril.  The government is being run by individuals drunk on power, who are not honest brokers, who have little respect for the rule of law.  While many instances are small in significance, such as President Obama failing to present a budget in a timely manner or having the Senate fail to do so at all even though legally bound, the aggregate of these instances is significant.

Propaganda is rampant, as a complicit media is in fusion with an oppressive government allowing the political ruling class to enact laws without comprehending all the intended and unintended consequences.  Operating outside the Congress, with our government implementing the global transformation of wealth, inclusive of a reduction in liberty, and attacking the Constitution and religion, the government has flamed class warfare and has placed a record percentage of our citizens into dependency.

If I were the devil, and I wanted to rob the citzenry, who are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pusuit of Happiness, of their identity, I would be acting in concert with the actions of the progressive, ruling class leites that are running the country today.

Paul Harvey tried to wake America up.  Attributed to Davy Crockett but certainly spoken by Gerald Ford, "Remember that a government big enough to give you everything youwant is also big enough to take everything you have."

Don't think they won't, as history shows they will.  What say you?

External Government Obsolescence

The right of property is the guardian of every other right, and to deprive a people of this, is in fact to deprive them of their liberty --Arthur Lee of the Commonwealth of Virginia

On Tuesday, The Supreme Court of the United States will hear a case regarding property rights centering on government control over an owners right to maximize the productivity or utility of the property. Of course, the founding fathers regarded ownership of private property as the foundation of freedom and prosperity.

FOX News Shannon Bream, a Tallahassee native who earned Juris Doctorate with honors from The Florida State University College of Law, has a report. 


The Pacific Legal Foundation, the oldest and most successful public interest legal organization that fights for limited government, property rights, individual rights and a balanced approach to environmental protection, will be in front of the Supreme Court working with the Koontz family.  Here is more regarding the public sector shakedown that has handicapped the ability of the Koontz family to maximize return on and of the vacant parcel.




The Hoover Institution has weighed in, recognizing the case is central to property rights, something John Adams found integral to freedom.  In fact, most are unaware that before becoming the father of our country, George Washington was a surveyor and mapper.

The Orlando Sentinel had a front page story on the case, as interestingly enough, the property in question is about twenty minutes away, right here in Orange County, Florida just east of lovely downtown Orlando.  Please see the maps below of the parcel.

 

 

 

Find Law.com has a good overview of the lengthy goings on in the case, presented below:

Koontz proposed to develop 3.7 acres closest to Highway 50, back to and including the power line easement. In order to develop his property, he sought a management and storage of surface waters permit to dredge three and one quarter acres of wetlands. A staffer from St. Johns agreed to recommend approval if Koontz would deed the remaining portion of his property into a conservation area and perform offsite mitigation by either replacing culverts four and one-half miles southeast of his property or plug certain drainage canals on other property some seven miles away. Alternatively, St. Johns demanded that Koontz reduce his development to one acre and turn the remaining 14 acres into a deed-restricted conservation area. Koontz agreed to deed his excess property into conservation status but refused St. Johns' demands for offsite mitigation or reduction of his development from three and seven-tenths acres to one acre. Consequently, St. Johns denied his permit applications.

As PLF points out, the case asks whether the Constitution places limits on an agency’s ability to demand excessive amounts of money from a land use applicant in exchange for a permit to build on his property.

The American Farm Bureau Federation brilliantly summarizes the impact of the case to the agricultural community:  To strengthen landowners’ ability to obtain compensation when permitting authorities impose an arbitrary or disproportionate requirement of money or services as a land-use permit condition, or when authorities refuse to issue a permit based on the landowner’s refusal to agree to an unconstitutional exaction of real property

This case will have significant national impact.  Recently, we have been focused on the evil and restrictive policy issues surrounding Agenda 21, but the tentacles of this movement are very far reaching.  If an ever increasing oppressive government, who already has tremendous power through code enforcement and the permitting process, can shakedown owners seeking permits to develop their owned property through imposing arbitrary fees, penalties and or taxes as a condition of obtaining permits is an extension of extraction that is unethical and unconstitutional, as I hope we are all about to find out.

A decision in favor of the government will no doubt open the door for the government to demand extraction wherever and whenever it wants.  Be advised the government will utilize the decision to further seek the transfer of wealth and exponentially expand the globalist dreams found in Agenda 21, significantly reducing the freedom and liberty of property owners to see maximum return on and or their investment.  This will curb investment, reduce utility and value of property, lower tax revenue and limit choice for consumers as development is reduced due to increased costs.

As James Madison noted, Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.

Tide Rolls on Agenda 21

Every two years, in keeping with governmental regulation, mandatory continuing education for many professional licensees is required. Last week, in order to keep my Certified Residential Appraiser license in good standing, 40 hours were taken in at the Peabody Hotel in on tourism row in Orlando.

Among the courses presented in the snore fest was The Introduction to Residential Green Buildings.  As you may suspect, the course provided the opportunity for advocacy of the green movement by the instructor, and the moment was seized.

The instructor surmised that homeowners were embracing energy restriction by downsizing the gross living area of homes being purchased.  To the contrary, the lowering of the average GLA is largely due to the economic status of America, which due to governmental interaction in markets has severely hampered job creation and created elevated levels of uncertainty.

Public and private sector organizations, the US Green Building Council and the Shelton Group, advocates for green energy initiatives, were referenced as leaders in assessing all things green, from measuring consumer acceptance to rating and regulating building energy efficiency.

On the course evaluation, I wrote "portions of the class unfortunately bordered on advocating the propaganda surrounding the pursuit of sustainable development, having the feeling of being "nudged" minus Cass Sunstein" closing with "Sustainable development infringes upon property rights".

It should be noted that all responsible citizens should engage in efforts to refrain from polluting and wasting energy.  In addition, in our free market society there are many opportunities as a property owners to maximize cost efficiency with regard to energy usage, and these are prudent investments.

Unfortunately, common sense initiatives have been expanded upon by governmental regulators influenced by left wing environmentalists, global warming alarmists and a very nefarious group who are supporters of Agenda 21, or sustainable development; a global effort to implement social justice.

As reported in Investors Business Daily, Agenda 21 is a frontal assault on formative principles of our founding fathers.  One of those is property rights. "Land ... cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market," Agenda 21 says.

"Private land ownership is also a principal instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it may become a major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development schemes."

Property rights are central to our sovereignty, and on these central principles there can be no compromise.

Agenda 21 is intended to foster what environmentalists call "sustainable development" in the belief that man since the Industrial Revolution has been a plague on the planet, plundering its resources while destroying nature and putting the world at risk of disastrous climate change, poverty and disease.

If you were thinking those attempting to implement strategies in this arena were those on the left wing extreme, you would be correct, and they are currently running our government. This group has done a masterful job in promotion of the greatest hoax of all time, global climate change, to the mainstream citizenry and business leaders. 

Many, perhaps fearful of being on the wrong side against a government who takes few prisoners, are eagerly on board.  Some are financially tied to government, and have no choice but to gleefully participate.  In fact, just yesterday, TARP recipient Bank of America (BAS:NYSE) pledged 50 million to combat global warming.  Have not seen a sell signal like that in a while.

Unfortunately, governmental regulators, which include the EPA, unelected regulatory Czars and Obama and his executive orders are shoving Agenda 21 down our throats, which increase costs in arenas inclusive of energy, building maintenance and regulatory compliance.  In fact, just this week President Obama said he would make climate change his top priority in his second term, although odds are increasing he won't get that chance.

Even so, as industries have bought into the climate change premise, policies in this regard are emerging to overwhelm business owners, limiting economic freedom and free market prosperity.

Agenda 21, an arm of the United Nations, is on the verge of gaining binding influence in our court system.  The Law of the Sea Treaty, up for vote soon in Congress, is a current example. As alarming as this is, America appears to be waking up as Alabama voters handed Agenda 21 such a lopsided loss, you would think Crimson Tide.

Our rights are being trampled under foot, and many remain unaware.  Under global climate change, arms of the movement are working like termites to gain control of the structure, pun intended, of our governance.  Time is of the essence, and with the Obama presidency seeming on the ropes, danger lurks behind every two by four.  Inform your friends about Agenda 21, and hit the voting booth in opposition at your earliest opportunity.

Poisonous Parting Gift of Sovereignty LOST

Dick Morris, FOX News contributor on tour for his newly released book, very appropriately titled Screwed, was a guest on Hannity the other night.  A line of topic usually reserved for Glenn Beck was given a specific segment, and you had better listen up closely.  Have at it:



Investors Business Daily, where you will find America's best editorial page, blasted the premise of tentacles surrendering sovereignty under various treaties which do nothing but provide vehicles facilitating the global transfer of wealth.  Our wealth.

While this sounds far fetched to those outside the loop, which is many our citizens who are busting their tails to provide for their families and have little time to decipher news outlets, it is alarmingly and increasingly true.

Please spend a moment reading our previous blog post on Agenda 21, which provides linkage to the evil that is associated with this movement, which centers around the loss of perhaps our most central tenant; property rights.

It was Glenn Beck that first alerted many of us of The Responsibility to Protect. Under this UN treaty, member nations have a set criteria to "push for strengthened capacities to prevent and halt genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity". 

Boy Howdy, does that sound good when you say it fast.

Glenn Beck, of course, places RP under closer examination.  Listen closely:



With the UN member nations deciding who the guilty parties are, who knows who may be in the cross hairs.  It is noted that the majority of these members are not fans of the United States, and under agreements like this, a vehicle to knock America down to the levels of other member nations under wealth transformation and social justice is engaged.

Therefore, I wonder if the UN might join a group of moonbat progressive democrats and idiots across the globe in a move to prosecute George W. Bush for war crimes? 

Dare I say that among the targets for crimes against humanity may be the loathed Israelis.  Samantha Power, wife of White House Obama Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs administrator Cass Sunstein, a the top architect of The Responsibility to Protect, is an individual who has been on record detailing her disdain for Israel. In addition, she has been described as  a woman determined  subordinate America’s national sovereignty

You think this is crazy?  It was just last week the UN felt compelled to weigh in and make demands that the sacred land housing Mount Rushmore be returned to the Native American tribes Uncle Sam stole it from.  Give them the wealth, says Obama green jobs Czar Van Jones!

For America to sign away of sovereignty through treaties with the UN giving them the upper hand in our federal court system is borderline treason in my mind. Operating under vehicles such as global warming, genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, the end game is ultimately the global transfer of wealth, because of the false premise that somehow America stole the wealth from these other countries and now supposedly oppresses them.

Climbing the crazy tree, given the distaste President Obama has for our American history and his goal to change our history and traditions and move us to a different place, I can imagine Obama relishing the opportunity to oversee change across the globe.  In future years, having set the table with the UN having jurisdiction in our federal court system, as Secretary General of United Nations, he may have left a poisonous parting gift as our President; the blueprint for the loss of the sovereignty of the United States of America.

Perhaps this is why Obama went on a global apology tour and appears to be friendly to our enemies and an enemy to our friends.  As the sun sets on the west, Obama in his arrogance seemingly aims to rule the world and bring America down to the levels of the rest of the world, presiding over his own global socialist utopia.

In his own mind, he was chosen to embark on this journey and the world lies in wait eager to follow his vision.  A vision that would lead America and world spiraling into decades of darkness.

Inside Attack on America: Agenda 21

The American economy is extremely fragile, in large measure to seemingly wreckless actions taken by the Obama administration and the FED. Far beyond that, with tentacles any Octopus would be proud of, Uncle Sam and all our liberties are under full scale attack from within, a sinister series of actions by extremely well funded socialists masking as environmentalists, economists, clergy, higher education, health care and governmental officials, seizing your individual rights under the mask of political correctness for the benefit of the collective.

Ten years ago, I would have found myself guilty of hanging upside down in the crazy tree considering these items. But as I take note of the events currently taking place, which have been underway for decades but have accelerated under President Obama, I find our world is what is upside down and common sense has caught the last train to Clarksville.

This is the first on a series examining how particular aspects of our governance is expanding and abusing governmental authority beyond the framework of our Constitution. You may find, unknowingly, you have been cheering on the loss of your own freedom.

The focus of the first of several installments deals with an evil implementation of social justice, Agenda 21.

Developed by The United Nations, at the UN Rio Earth Summit in 1992 Agenda 21 was presented for endorsement by UN member nations "as a global plan of action for sustainable development," which aims to implement social justice through managing community development, industry, cultural and individual behavior. At the summit, President George H. W. Bush, who I voted for, signed on to Agenda 21. In 1993, President Bill Clinton, who I did not support, formed the Council For Sustained Development to Implement Agenda 21. Hence, regrettably, both parties are involved.

Although it is detailed, essentially, Agenda 21 efforts to contain the spread of development across the globe, leaving as much land as possible pristine. Further, through regulation by bureaucrats at the UN, "unsustainable" environments, development which fails to meet certain criteria, must be reversed for the global good. Four aspects of Agenda 21 are economic, natural resources, institutional and social. There is a large contingency of individuals, corporations, governmental agencies and organizations on board, and many may not recognize the nefarious ambitions at the heart of the effort. Among those behind it are George Soros, Al Gore and the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), which interacts with local governments to implement policies. You would be shocked at how successful the have been, as some 600 cities have signed on to implement policies outlined by Agenda 21.

Federal legislation under Cap and Trade was a product of Agenda 21, with Fannie Mae, reaching far outside the real estate finance arena, purchasing a trading exchange to house the system. Financing was thought to be provided by Shore Bank, a Chicago based bank which reportedly met its demise once Cap and Trade failed. Unfortunately, as President Obama typically does, the Congress was bypassed by the Obama appointed Czars, who are unaccountable to the the people, and extensive climate change regulations were implemented with the EPA utilized as the enforcing mechanism.

A recent example of the natural resource segment (toxic chemicals) of Agenda 21 would be the new extensive lead based paint regulations put forth by the EPA should property owners with homes built before 1976 wish to update your home in an effort to further the formation of a green economy. Beyond lead based paint, new expensive regulations regarding air conditioning systems, roofing, windows and doors must adhere to standards put in place to curb global warming, which of course, is a vehicle for the global transfer of wealth.

Former Washington Redskin tight end Clint Diddier, now a farmer in retirement, recently spoke with FOX News David Asman, and he is not happy about regulations on farmers in his home state, nor should he be:



Glenn Beck presented Agenda 21 to his FOX audience last summer:



Tentacles of government intrusion under Agenda 21 focus on restricting energy usage, health care opportunities, population growth and private property rights, the latter being a central cog in the formation of our country. Better stated, individual freedom is being confiscated.

Freedom Advocates houses a top notch website which thoroughly encompasses the enormity of Agenda 21, and fortunately, they are not blinded by political correctness and have a keen understanding of the evil end game, which is the loss in American sovereignty and individual rights as we join a global structure. Please check it out.

Our Founding Fathers would be rolling in their graves to think Uncle Sam is legislating away our sovereignty over a hoax conceived to advance a governance based on the collective. Opposition to this agenda is growing, and a big recent victory came with the Republican National Committee passing an Anti-Agenda 21 resolution. But the fight is far from over.

I should have paid much more attention when George H. W. Bush discussed a new world order. At least I am awake now, and hopefully you are too. Our opponents are the same cast of characters you have come to know over the past few years, and they must be defeated. Please join the fight against those who wish to take our individual freedom and the sovereignty of our nation under the false premise of global warming, a move to the collective under a massive transfer of wealth.

The Pilgrims and Property Rights

As we enjoy this Thanksgiving weekend, we must give thanks for property rights, which is central among the foundation of our republic. Reason TV explains how our Ancestors got fat and happy:



HT/CARPE DIEM via ReasonTV

Amendment 4 Attacks Property Rights

Amendment 4, also known as the Hometown Democracy Referendum, is a very serious threat to property rights. Excessive governmental regulatory influences on property owners to utilize their property in legal fashion is not only an attack on the property owner, but all consumers.

The Coalition for Property Rights has presented a brief summary on the amendment, and the following video is quite informative.



Please join the Coalition for Property Rights and various other organizations for a Land Rights Rally BBQ cookout. See the following schedule:

The Coalition for Property Rights

An old-fashioned LAND RIGHTS RALLY & BBQ

Friday, September 10th 11:30 - 1:00 p.m.

Sorosis Club, 501 East Livingston Avenue, Orlando

Passage of this amendment would be a very serious blow to the economy of Florida, and would allow government to seize more of your rights, further reducing your liberty our founding fathers fought so hard for.

Fundamental Transformation: Evil Looms

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's response to the question of addressing Fannie and Freddie by Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe caught my ear. Roll the tape:



Exactly how is the Obama administration going take a look at the entire housing market? How will they change the system completely? What regulatory steps will be taken to make the market more affordable and stable?

Clearly, Geithner is speaking of governmental intervention instead of allowing free markets to dictate, which is the action that should be taken. In case your are new to the issue of the housing crisis, government intervention is the central culprit in the problem.

I wondered if the government was going to take aim at limiting risk. Risk is an essential, and measurable, component in markets. Risk measures the variation in anticipated outcomes. Most home buyers in the last decade had never seen housing prices extend past a standard level of deviation, much less seen home values crash. Therefore, they anticipated that the risk of such an event were close to zero, even though as prices extended above measurable moving averages, risk increased.

Through Fannie and Freddie, the government controls almost 70% of residential home mortgages. The biggest player, and in most cases, the only player in town, these GSE's can dictate terms for lending, and through this mechanism, control risk.

Enter Glenn Beck, who in all seriousness these days is Inspector Clouseau and Woodward and Bernstein wrapped into one, and the evil plans of our government are exposed. Beck outlined a series of coincidences, that are actually not coincidences, that are extremely alarming. Please listen carefully to the following segment of The Glenn Beck Program from this past Tuesday:



The Examiner has more on this startling report at Examiner.com.

The administration has stated they never want to see a crisis go to waste. As I see it, the housing crisis, created in large measure by the government, appears to be a vehicle through which the government will implement cap and trade policies through regulatory actions on residential housing through the mortgage holder Fannie & Freddie. Remember the article recently in The American Thinker? Politico has more and this has been looming for some time.

The regulatory actions placed on residential housing will likely be a carbon tax based on the energy efficiency score placed on your residence. Interest rates, through the GSE's, if you can get them, will likely be based on your score as well. Keep in mind regulations that already exist for mortgaged properties, such as certain levels of property insurance. The slope is getting real slippery.

Forget that global warming is a hoax whose real purpose is provide a vehicle for the global transformation of wealth. Under this false premise, regulatory action on residential housing, enforced by the EPA, will tax residential property owners to fund this transformation.

While if voted in with corrupt measures like the Health Care bill was, it likely won't be illegal, but the actions of former Fannie Mae CEO and Obama transition team consultant Franklin Raines may well be. At any rate, this nonsense has simply got to stop, as our country is being run into the ground on purpose by Progressive global warming moonbats.

Obama proclaimed he is going to transform the Untied States of America. Into what, I am not sure, but into something our founding fathers would strongly resist. Wake your neighbors up before it is too late!

Foreclose on ACORN

Left wing fraudulent organization ACORN is attempting to become an unwelcomed major player in the foreclosure mess our country and communities are currently facing. Since the election is over and the voter fraud issues are surprisingly behind us, ACORN is now refocusing on the real estate market. Take a listen:



Before we get to far along, please take a moment to refresh your memory on ACORN, and keep in mind this organization is on the list to receive millions from the hastily passed spendulus package.



With their favorite son elected President, ACORN is now flexing muscle, in beautiful downtown Orlando.



A nationwide event, called the "Home Staying" campaign, kicked off today in seven cities. Among the cities ACORN targeted today was Orlando. Unfortunately, ACORN is proud to use civil disobedience in the form of human barricades, according to Meridith Adrion, an Orlando community organizer. "We are calling on people to stand up and say "I'm not leaving my home", said Adrion.

I am very much against this, and I am calling on people to take personal responsibility for their actions. A contract is between the parties involved and for a non profit organization, with a checkered past at best, to interject themselves into the relationship is improper. Folks who do not, for whatever reason, adhere to the terms of the contract are in default, and must suffer the consequences associated with that, which includes being forced out of the property.

I am an owner of several rental properties in Orlando, and despite my best efforts through an applicant screening process, I find that I unfortunately have to evict tenants who fail to meet their rental obligation, and I have every right to do so. In fact, I have an obligation to do so. So do the the banking firms that hold the mortgages in default.

The eviction process is costly for both parties, but I have a fiduciary responsibility to my obligations and to my family that come before whatever bad luck has befallen a tenant. No pay, no stay.

ACORN thrusting their participation in this process is interference in the marketplace, creating a higher level of uncertainty, punishing those meeting their obligations, reducing the power gained from the falling home prices in the form of affordability of those wishing to enter the marketplace and delaying the reset the market so desperately needs.

For those of us who champion personal responsibility and are wishing for a return to normal market activity with respect to the housing market, the actions of ACORN interference are sure to make the wait substantially longer.