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Individual Control or Collectivist Control?

Many land use issues boil down to the question of who should make the decision as to the most appropriate use for any given property. Private property rights advocates will usually choose the owner of the property. They believe that the person who owns the property will recognize that their best interest lies in the wise use and conservation of the resources of the property. Property rights advocates recognize that there is a small fraction of property owners who will take a shortsighted approach, pillage the resources and then move on. Humans tend to project their actions onto others. They assume that others will see things similarly to themselves and consequently behave much as they themselves would. Because most property rights advocates manage their properties well, they assume that most other folks will also manage their property wisely.

Private property distinguishes free countries from the rest

What is it that makes a free country? Is it becuase the country is corruption-free. Nyet. Is it because the free country has taxation below a certain level? Nine. What distinguishes a free country is the right and use of private property. Socialism / Communism says the government owns everything. Facism says it is prvately owned but government controlled. Freedom is defined by the right of a private citizen to own and control his private property. In this country we are moving rapidly from that position to one of "freedom by permit only." This allows government to keep the fascade of freedom. "Of course you own it. Of course you may direct its use -- as long as you get a permit (our permission) to do so." One of the main functions of a legitimate government is to provide protection from others infringing on my rights.

Hi! I’m with King County and I’m here to save your lifestyle!

Run! I did and if you want any semblance of a “rural” lifestyle, you will too. The King County vision of a “rural economy” can be summed up in two words: forestry and agriculture. Their vision for the “Rural Area” is McMansions. According to the 2002 US agricultural census there were 450 farms in King County that made a profit that averaged $99,949. There were 176 farms that grossed $50,000 or more. There were 1,098 farms that operated at an average net loss of $14,305. At the very most, there might be 100 farmers making a living in King County. Forestry statistics are harder to find. In talking with people involved in that industry for many years it would seem that the only ones making any money in forestry are Weyerhauser and its peers. For the sake of analysis let’s pretend that there are 50 people making a living growing forest trees.

The problem with Evironmetalism

I keep trying to remind people that environmentalism is, well, an "ism." Folks who want to be good stewards aren't necessarily into the religion of environmentalism. Those who "believe" strongly keep swerviing over into other aspects of the religion. Charles Colson, Nixon's "hatchet-man" and convicted Watergate felon does a great job in his Dec. 18th radio broadcast of showing how the two keep intertwining themselves. http://www.informz.net/pfm/archives/archive_913341.html Read for yourself why we have a hard time keeping our fight to real property when taxes confiscate our private property and enironmentalism wants to threaten innocent life to reduce CO2 emmissions. They call for limits on children as a way to reduce the discredited theory of global warming. Talk about religious zealotry.

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