Double Standards

10 01 2021

(The following is a Facebook post I recently put up. I decided to add to this venue so that I can link more detailed articles for the reader’s benefit, and also, many of my DTN subscribers do not follow my FB page.)

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” -John Milton

The fulfillment of this quote is, and has always been, at the center of the American values system and experience. Recent developments in Washington, DC has led to a great discussion now on the rights speech, and the rights of private companies.

First of all, let me be clear. I do not condone the violent breach of the Capital Building on Wednesday. I was out of touch for a few hours that day, and a friend called to inform me of what was going on. I could not believe it. There are many things that make me skeptical that these breachers/rioters were Conservative Republicans. (You may think that’s crazy, but this is my post, so shut up and finish reading.) But I will leave that point for later discussion, and it appears that the culprits are being rounded up and dealt with by law enforcement, and I am sure these individuals will feel the full force of the justice system, unlike those who we’ve watched burn, beat, destroy and pillage for the last 7-8 years.

Secondly, I will concede the rights of private companies not to participate in, or be forced by government to participate in activities which are against their own standards or deeply held beliefs. I cannot say, and do not believe that my Left leaning friends who believe that a baker or florist do not have the same right of refusal as another privately owned yet publicly traded company, would concede that point.

If Twitter and Zuckerberg want to edit or control speech, that’s fine; I signed the contract that pretty much gave everything I post over to them. However, as a publicly traded, and publicly used utility, they need to be held to the same standard of “non-discriminatory” usage as every other utility, which cannot deny service based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

Thirdly, if you don’t see the Double Standard here, that has been developing for years, not months or even since this last Presidential administration, you have your head in the sand. This process has been well under way under the radar, and came to the surface during the Obama Administration when #BLM swept across University campi across the nation, following the Ferguson riots.

Just a few miles down the road at Kansas University, BLM operatives invaded the Student Senate making demands of the Senate members and furthermore, of the attendees. Among those demands, any white person, even an “ally”, who wanted to speak had to be given permission by a person of color before they were allowed to speak and be heard in the public discussion. Now, not many of you probably know that. But I have a highly educated professional friend in Lawrence who attended that meeting and took copious notes, and relayed it to me immediately.

I do not share that anecdote to cast racial aspersions at all. In fact, its not even about race. It is about one group of people being, not only willing, but allowed to silence another group, in an institution bought and paid for by public funds, for the purpose of public education. That very institution in historical fact, was at the cutting edge of the abolition movement which freed an entire group of people from bonds of oppression, slavery, disenfranchisement, and censorship.

Teachers and professors have been fired or ridiculed into resignation across the nation by these radical Leftist groups for daring to offer any semblance of alternative viewpoints, or in some cases just saying a simple historic word, in context of historic discussion. “University” used to be the most Liberal place in the country. And by “Liberal” I mean in the classical sense; liberal thought used to mean “open minded”, per se, and open to different ideas. (I do not refer to these Leftists as “Liberal”. Our Founders were very Liberal in that Constitutional government by the People had never been tried before.)

University was where students were exposed to ideas and thoughts that perhaps they had never encountered before, in their corner of the country. The University was truly where these ideologies and philosophies all came together and in true “Diversity” brought everyone involved into a single “Universe”-ity. But today, diversity of thought is NOT permitted on campus, and speakers who might bring an alternative idea are not given a platform, denying the student body of a true diverse discussion and ideological exchange. Universities today serve to codify, propagate and ingrain the philosophies of godless individuals like Karl Marx, who denied his own family of a decent home (and most of his children died before he did), while he spent his Engels provided stipend on clothes, cigars and travel.

Finally, this fundamental transformation did not happen under the “devil” Donald Trump. It was deeply embedded in the bureaucracy years before. This is much bigger than Donald Trump, and if you think it’s about him, or in reaction to him, you have drunk the koolaid. It’s not even about Twitter suspending his account, or Facebook filtering anything I posted about the election by “warning” that “there is no evidence of widespread election fraud”. (Hell, Zuckerberg is probably going to shadow ban this post.)

This is about a full segment of society believing it is entirely “OK” for opposing points of view to be shut down. Maybe you weren’t aware of the things that I have shared here. Why would you suppose that is? Perhaps a willing participation of “omission” by news media? Censorship is not just about not allowing some points of view to be published; it’s also about the refusal to cover events, or report on things that the public should know.

Censorship also comes in the form of ridicule, and this point is one that Saul Alinsky made well, because it works, and it works because public ridicule is one thing that most, almost all people, want to avoid, even if they are right. It is also the easiest form of censorship for the mob to exercise. I do not mind if you disagree with me and we can have a civil discussion; if you have followed me long enough you know that. But if you think it’s ok to shut down an opinion, or an ideological point of view, you may be excused from my page. [I have always championed free exchange of ideas on this page, and have only ever blocked 2 people; one for obscenities and one for just being an ass.]

I find it incredibly ironic that people, especially Leftists, or those who fancy themselves as “Independents” or “moderates”, who have decried “Corporate America” for decades, have now, not only conceded, but sold their sovereign souls to support giant corporations who hold and exercise the power of not just censorship, but work with government entities to shape and form public opinion by controlling information, shaping policy, and influencing or even corrupting elections.

It’s all good.

Until it’s your information, opinion and ideology that is scrutinized.

Double Standards. Stuff ’em.

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Who Is Black Lives Matter?

8 08 2016

With Law Enforcement Officers dying in America’s streets, simply for wearing the uniform, we have entered a new era.  While it is reminiscent of the 1960’s-70’s radical revolutionary movement which paralleled, then infiltrated and co-opted a legitimate civil rights movement, this is even more serious, more deadly, and more dangerous than that.  More dangerous in that the radicals have been allowed to infiltrate every institution, and are now in the chief seats of power.  More serious because during the 50’s and 60’s there was legitimate need for civil rights reform in both American society and in government.  More deadly in that the stability of American society has been successfully fragmented over the last 40 years due to multi-culturalism and pluralism, and recently with unchecked immigration policies, and the great “melting pot” of American culture has become a TV dinner, divided, cold, and hardened to critical thinking and introspection.  Particularly, in matters of race relations, the election of our first black President, has resulted in deeper wedges being driven, and some of those by the President himself.  Mind you, it’s not simply because the man happens to have dark skin, but wholly as a result of his ideology which cannot be contained.

For anyone who doubts that ideology is supreme in today’s America, and racism is an over used word which has gotten lost in it’s wreckless and wanton use by demagogues in identity politics, just consider this.  When was the last time anyone in the mainstream media celebrated, or even took seriously, a black (or white for that matter) American man or woman in office or position of influence, who has taken a politically conservative or Christian based moral position on any issue?  Let me name a few: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Ambassador Alan Keyes,  Congressman Lt. Col. Alan West,  Congresswoman Mia Love, Senator Tim Scott, former Congressman J.C. Watts, US Appeals Court Judge Janice Rogers Brown (whom Democrats refused to confirm for 2 years), Professor, author, Thomas Sowell,  Journalist, Professor, author Walter E. Williams, politician and Former Secretary of State Condelleza Rice.   All great conservative Americans of African descent.  Out of the 10 names, I doubt the average person will recognize half of them.  These are all people of great influence due to either elected positions, or hard work and dedication to the betterment of all American society; not just one specific shade of color.  These are the kind of people who, if possible are ignored by media.

Conversely, you will recognize immediately names such as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Elijah Cummings, Oprah Winfrey, Louis Farrakhan,  and outlaws like Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.

The origin of Black Lives Matter

100px-Communist_star.svg

#1)  The hashtag # Black Lives Matter movement was co-founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.  Garza is a Marxist political activist who’s heroes include the Marxist revolutionary, former Black Panther, and convicted cop-killer Assata Shakur for her contributions to the “Black Liberation Movement.” Garza is likewise a great admirer of Angela Davis  (Communist Party USA and former Black Panther).  Cullors has ties to the 60’s revolutionary terrorist group, Weather Underground, and led 600 Black Lives Matter protesters to Ferguson, MO in 2014 following the death of Michael Brown after he struggle with a police officer trying to take his weapon.  Those protests resulted in 400 arrests, 20 civilian injuries,  37 St. Louis County police officers injured, 12 civilian cars burned, 2 police cruisers burned, and 29 buildings burglarized or vandalized all totaling about $5 Million.

frsologo

All three BLM founders share a Marxist ideology and work for front groups of the “Freedom Road Socialist Organization” (FRSO), a self proclaimed “revolutionary socialist and Marxist-Leninist organization” which touts itself as a “new Communist movement” with its roots in the
60’s and 70’s revolutionary groups; groups like the League of Revolutionary Struggle, the Revolutionary Union, the Communist Labor Party, the October League, the Communist Workers Party, the Black Workers Congress, just to name a few.  The FRSO website is wide open about its intentions, nothing covert there, and touts Communist revolutionaries including Mao Zedong, arguably the worst mass murderer in history killing 70 million in his takeover of China.

The Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement (RAM), is an ANTIFA organization committed to armed conflict, and tribal like enclaves (CHAZ), giving examples of ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) anti-state counter groups; Kurdish tribal community resurgence groups like YPG (People’s Protection Unit) and YPJ (Asayis-Internal Security Force) as a model, which set up secure zones requiring checkpoints for entry. RAM is also directly linked to BLM, and holds up as idols the likes of cop killers like aforementioned Assata Shakur, Angela Davis, Russel Shoats, Mumia-Abul Jamal.

The additional list of Revolutionary and Racist groups and individuals that BLM is directly, or indirectly associated with includes Open Society Foundations (George Soros), Tides Foundation, Ford Foundation among a long list of others who pump millions of dollars into BLM.

#2) In BLM’s short history they have inspired riots in several US cities, and protests in many more with provocative chants such as “What do we want? -DEAD COPS!! When do we want it? -NOW!!”, and “Pigs in a Blanket, Fry ’em like Bacon!!”. “No Justice; No Peace”, just to hit the most popular ones. If there is yet any doubt to the revolutionary intent, check this article published on BLM’s website lamenting the death and celebrating the life of Fidel Castro.

#3)  Every generation has its rebels, but these are being well funded by people like George Soros, who has given over $7 Billion to other radical Leftist groups like: ACORN, Apollo Alliance, National Council of La Raza, aforementioned Tides Foundation, Huffington Post, Southern Poverty Law Center, Soujourners, People for the American Way, Planned Parenthood, and the National Organization for Women, and Moveon.org.   Soro’s also funded the protesters in Ferguson, Missouri marching for #BLM, who burned those businesses, rioted and created havoc for the entire city, under the false narrative that Michael Brown was an innocent teenage boy who had his hands up and was gunned down in the street by a white racist cop.  Soros and his Progressive friends would like nothing better than to see massive civil unrest in America’s streets. (Ferguson cop Darren Wilson was cleared by the USDOJ after a full civil rights investigation by AG Eric Holder). However, we cannot allow justification of terrorist activities from these revolutionaries any more than we can allow justification for Islamic terrorism. The desired culmination of these efforts will be bloody anarchy which will end in total and complete martial law, and the people will demand it.

#4) The protest in Dallas was indeed peaceful, up until the killing of 5 police officers and wounding 7 more, yet some of the protesters did, and one even confessed afterward on a call in radio program, that he and others had attempted to provoke police officers by various means of disrespectful behavior.

#5)  Just less than 4 hours before the Dallas shooting, Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam (an American black cult version of Islam) had posted a call for blacks to rise up in violence against whites saying, “…don’t let this white man tell you that violence is wrong.” “Every damn thing that he got, he got it by being violent — killing people, raping and robbing and murdering. He’s doing it as we speak, and then he has the nerve to come and tell us that violence and hatred won’t get it. Don’t buy that!…He is worthy to be hated.”

The Next Phase 

BLM has recently formed with 30 other member organizations a new, broader organization of groups, and endorsed by another nearly 40 such groups, to form “The Movement for Black Lives” or “M4BL”, which codified it’s platform in conjunction with the Democratic Party Convention in Philadelphia (2016).  M4BL‘s platform reads like the Communist Manifesto demanding, among other things:  Reparations, consisting of not just full and free access to all public education facilities including colleges and universities, but make it a “Constitutional Right“, not just for American blacks but for “all undocumented” as well as “formerly and currently incarcerated” and full retroactive forgiveness of all student loans, and a “guaranteed minimal livable income“.

M4BL goes on in their demands to “Divest-Invest“, in which funds for policing/incarceration would be diverted to education/employment programs.  “Economic Justice” which demands “radical and sustainable redistribution of wealth” and a Communistic “End of exploitative privatization of natural resources” and demands “democratic control over how resources are preserved“.  Verbatim it reads:

  • “Because land is treated as a commodity, a minority of wealthy corporations and families disproportionately owns land in the U.S. and the resources on top of it. 60 percent of land is privately owned, with the wealthiest half-a-percent owning 35.6 percent of this land and the wealthiest 10 percent owning nearly 80 percent of it.”

The lost little fact among these stats is the United States Government owns/controls over 1/3 of the land mass of the United States.  That would, I think, fall under the category “democratically controlled”, according to the context of the statements hereto.  This demand is right out of the  Communist Manifesto’s 1st plank of abolishing private property ownership.

The M4BL ‘s “End the War on Black People” plank proclaims “We demand an end to the criminalization, incarceration, and killing of our people.”  This entails and end to capital punishment, “ending the use of past criminal history to determine eligibility for housing, education, licenses, voting, loans, employment, and other services and needs.”  It also requires the “repeal of the 1996 crime and immigration bills, an end to all deportations, immigrant detention, and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) raids, and mandated legal representation in immigration court.”

The Progressive Left has successfully used America’s black citizen’s for years.  The BLM movement was fully embraced by the soft Marxist Barack Obama.  His Marxist/Progressive party successor Hillary Clinton would have continued to use these communities and continue to keep them in the bonds of “social justice”, marching and working on behalf of those slave-masters who benefit from the people’s own labor.  

Every inner city social and economic disaster where the poor and oppressed black (and other minority) Americans are continuing to languish is, and has been run by these very Progressives for 50 years. Democrat run cities have had the highest rate of racial unrest, violence, gang warfare, and economic inequality. They continue to run on promises to solve the racial inequities, social injustices, and police reform relative to brutality and profiling, yet those issues are never fully addressed or resolved. The Bolsheviks are in control here.  This entire movement has been initiated by them. They must have victims in order to perpetrate a movement. Identity politics and class warfare has proven effective. Now, the Fascist group ANTIFA (Supposedly “anti-fascist”) and it’s Anarchist, and Communist allies, have actually taken over an entire section of Seattle, Washington, and declared it a new sovereign nation. The existing city government ceded the area, including the Police Headquarters, to the terrorists, who now run armed patrols the area, checking identifications to prove people “belong there”.

But alas, the answer to this entire problem is not political.  It is not finance, education, or government which holds the answer.  The answer to this problem is spiritual.  Until people, black, white, brown, or otherwise get a grasp on who God is and who we are before him, this problem will not find relief.  To the contrary, the very God has warned us that perilous times shall come.  He also warned that nation who does not live by His standard, the Bible, is doomed to fail.

I agree that our country is more corrupt than we would like to admit. We have sown to the wind; now we shall reap the whirlwind. Nothing short of national revival of Biblical proportions will stay this judgement we have brought upon ourselves.  

But the people will not have it.


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Categories : American Heritage/History, Campus Protests/Black Lives Matter, General, Homeland Security, Political, Religious, Uncategorized

Campus Capers and Cacophony: Inside the Student Protests

23 11 2015

After 2 weeks of Protests on college campuses around the country, the movement continues to grow.  There are signs that the protests are not “copy-cat” or coincidence, but a concerted and well planned effort by a revolutionary element yet to be positively identified.  Incuded in this article is a first hand report from inside one Student Senate meeting this last week which will reveal much of what is taking place on universities around America.

OxyUnited

Notice the clenched fist symbol used in Communist revolutionary expression since the Bolsheviks.

Beginning at University of Missouri in early November, that protest finally culminated on November 16th with the resignation of President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor Bowen, over lack of response to alleged racial concerns in U of M.  Missouri Governor Jay Nixon followed this with a statement that it was “necessary step toward healing and reconciliation”.

In quick succession, protests were felt in major universities across the United States:

Occidental College in Los Angeles – Student protestors occupy an administration building for a week.  14 demands are made by a student group called “Oxy United for Black Liberation”.  Demand #9 is that campus police immediately discontinue wearing bullet proof vests.  # 10 is “Immediate removal of LAPD’s presence on campus”.  President Veitch says there is no way all their demands can be met.  Protestors call for his resignation and he agreed to do so.

Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York – Organizers “People of Color” call for “radical/transformative change in governance and structure at Ithaca College” and demand the resignation of President Tom Rochon.  On Nov. 10th Rochon announced a new position of Chief Diversity Officer, a position which Oxy obviously already has.

Amherst College – As a response to the UM protests some students held signs that lamented the “death of free speech” and “All Lives Matter”.  That was simply so harsh that a group known as the “Amherst Uprising” listed 11 demands, among which requires President Biddy Martin issue a statement saying that Amherst does “not tolerate the actions of student(s) who posted the ‘All Lives Matter’ posters, and the ‘Free Speech’ posters.”  In addition, the “Uprising” demands the people behind the “free speech” fliers be required to go through a disciplinary process as well as “extensive training for racial and cultural competency.”  After all, we can’t actually have students thinking they have freedom of speech on college campuses now can we?

Yale – Students protest an alleged “White girls only” fraternity party. The party is under investigation but evidence is not substantive enough to confirm any “racial profiling” by the frat brothers, although it is suspected they were screening for attractiveness, no matter the race or ethnicity (imagine college boys doing that).

One Yale faculty member was “protested” due to a failure to remember someone’s name and an email that his wife had sent to the dorm where they serve as “Masters”.  Nicholas Christakis was surrounded by students calling for his resignation and screaming, “Why the f*** did you accept the position?”  The email questioned why there was a need to warn and protect students from culturally insensitive Halloween costumes—a response to a set of guidelines sent by Yale’s Intercultural Affairs Committee.

“If you don’t like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended. Talk to each other. Free speech and the ability to tolerate offence are the hallmarks of a free and open society,” Mrs. Christakis wrote.  My sentiments exactly!

But not to the modern “Revolutionary” on American college campuses.

Claremont McKenna College – Junior class President Kris Brackman resigns her office after a photo of her and other students in Halloween costumes was circulated and posted by someone taking offense at the “racially insensitive” costumes of two of the girls in the picture with Brackman.  (Wearing ponchos, sombreros and fake mustaches).   In her resignation letter Brackman accepts full responsibility for her “offense”:

“As a bystander I did not assertively speak out against the costumes, despite knowing that they were disrespectful,” she wrote. “Even worse, I associated myself with the offensive message by willingly standing in a photo with the costumes … I am regretfully sorry to have been associated with this harmful incident, and after thoughtful consideration I have decided to leave my position as the Junior Class President.”

This wasnt’ enough and the College Dean, Mary Spellman also stepped down after 6 years.

University of Kansas – All four state universities in Kansas- Wichita State, Emporia State, Kansas State, and University of Kansas have all experienced some form of protest in the last few days.  We will take a closer look at “Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk”(RCIH), the group protesting at KU.

The protests at KU erupted on Nov 11 when the Chancellor held a townhall meeting to discuss the University of Missouri events.  RCIH interrupted the forum, taking the stage holding signs supporting Mizzou and protesting various issues, including at least one which read “Black Lives Matter”.   The crowd reportedly became caustic, at times yelling over Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, in the packed out Student Union.  RCIH also carried signs which enumerated 15 demands, some of which Kansas University has no jurisdiction over, such as re-opening an investigation into a homicide from 1970 of a 19 year old Black student.  Another demand included increasing the number of “undocumented students” on campus.  (My head is beginning to hurt).

RCIH took note of two students, the Student Body President and Vice President, when they did not stand to show unity with the protestors.  That failed action singled them out for brutal social media coverage and accusations of racism and insensitivity.  Yes, they are white.  President Jessie Pringle, VP Zach George, and a third student, Chief of Staff Adam Moon may face impeachment proceedings now, as they refuse to resign, even after they signed a written statement formalizing support for “Black Lives Matter”.

“Rhetorical Terrorism”

A few days ago a friend attended the Student Senate meeting at KU on November 18th.  She is a professional, and took meticulous notes, and has been releasing related materials ever since.  The following commentaries are excerpts from her report:

People don’t realize how far this social justice/political correctness agenda has gone. I didn’t realize it until last night! I am frightened in a way I haven’t been before. And nobody is offering me a “safe space” where I can “breathe” and have “my humanity affirmed“. [Italicized are recurring terms which are often mentioned in these meetings.]

There was talk about ally vs accomplice. Those white students who spoke in support of RockChalkInvisibleHawk (RCIH) could be called an “ally” but only if persons of color (more than one) granted them that status. That comes directly from KU OMA (office of multicultural affairs) which previously had a workshop on how to be an ally.

I was disappointed in the responses of the three officers who didn’t resign and are now under the impeachment process. It was sheer self-flagellation. Profuse apologies for not giving multicultural students what they need and ruining their experience at KU (which experience is to provide “learning, self-exploration and above all enjoyment“).  The officers want everyone to come together, to restructure the senate, additional appointed senate seats, mandatory “cultural competency training“, cap election spending (and possibly minority coalition subsidies), address the retention rate,…

Changes will include international students and gender neutral language. Adam Moon had said something about the “normal freshman experience’ and a representative of the International Students Association got up and asked why he “called international students abnormal. You said normal freshman…why are we abnormal?” When [Moon] denied that he called them abnormal, she told him he needed “to watch his rhetoric“.
Someone asked if requiring “students of color” be on the election commission and that was affirmed as a possibility. In other words, quotas.
There was a lot of questions about how to make sure those who have gone through cultural competency training are actually competent and if not deemed competent, how they could be removed.  Stephon Alcorn (black senator) said that “all students have a right to inclusion and success“.
“Rhetorical terrorism” — as in, what you said just made me feel unsafe; therefore, you have terrorized me with your words.
If there was something said or a question asked that they didn’t like, they would say “Impact”. If the speaker would say, that’s not my intent, the response was “I don’t care what your intent was, you have impacted me.”
Dr. Andrea Quenette Asst Professor of Communications used “rhetorical terrorism” and denied institutional racism.  RCIH has published an open letter calling for her resignation based on insensitive and racist remarks in a classroom discussing the current issues.  She insists that her motives were not discriminatory and now fears for her job, because she voiced that she doesn’t see racism on the KU campus and used the “n-word” in a frank discussion about race, stating she has never seen that word spray painted on the walls.
Intimidation was strong. The meeting chair (who did a great job) kept having to take a motion to extend the speakers’ time. The first couple of times the votes were “Yay” and a few “Nays” until Omar (RCIH student)  got up and exclaimed that if you don’t want to have questions and allow them to speak “then there’s the door”.  After that, all extensions of time were unanimous. At one point, while the RCIH were standing up front talking about their demands, they said “and if you don’t like this or vote against it”, “We see you. Don’t think we don’t see you“.
Folks, this type of intimidation tactics are classic Saul Alinsky style, “ridicule is man’s most potent weapon”, “pick the target, freeze it and personalize it”.  Also, “power is not what you have, it’s what the enemy thinks you have”.   These people have been trained.  It is concerted and highly organized.  These few colleges are not the entirety of this effort. It is nationwide.
The following short video is a great illustration of what we are seeing take place on our universities across the country, right now.  Watch this, Please!


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Categories : American Heritage/History, Campus Protests/Black Lives Matter, Political

Federal Over-Reach Part 3: Commies, Coal and Cattle

5 06 2014

While the Obama Administration and the EPA continue their assault on the coal industry in the United States, mandating a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020, it seems that their “war on coal” is only interested in attacking US power companies. In fact, it’s cutting sweet deals with foreign interests, exporting American coal for pennies on the dollar from BLM controlled lands.

Montana
The Northern Plains Resource Council has filed a lawsuit on May 14, 2014, against a federal coal lease in Musselshell County, Montana, alleging that BLM failed to study the impacts of mining in ranch country. Huge cracks appearing in the surface there are affecting spring-flows, draining water away from livestock and other ranching uses, which will also affect wildlife.

Much concern is also being raised about the incredible loss of revenue to American taxpayers in light of the BLM “giving away 25 coal seams for the price of one” to Signal Peak Energy, the mining company involved. An international commodities company, Gunvor, bought one third interest in the coal mine in 2011. A close friend of Vladimir Putin, named Timchenko, held a 43% interest in Gunvor until the sanctions resulting from the Russian annexation of Crimea. Timchenko, who was co-founder of Gunvor, sold his interest to his partner, Tornqvist. Forbes magazine places Timchenko on the list of sanctioned Russian billionaires and close associates with Putin, who according to this Forbes article, may still have access to Gunvor funds, and holds Gunvor investments.

As the Obama noose tightens around the necks of domestic coal energy providers, those companies seeking to stay in business have looked offshore. American coal exports have doubled since 2009 to 120 Million tons according to this Wall Street Journal story. That same story says that European natural gas powered electricity is being displaced by much cheaper imported American coal, mostly UK, Netherlands, and Italy. Germany is planning to shut down its nuclear powered plants and replace with coal. China and India’s voracious appetite for coal has hardly even been addressed by American coal, yet.

So, as America’s coal consumption drops, the rest of the world’s increased usage will consume much more than what America conserves. This will further place America at an economic disadvantage, especially if the government continues to sell its coal at firesale clearance prices.

New Mexico
Meanwhile, across the country to southern New Mexico where yet another battle is under way between federal authorities and ranchers of Otero County, along the Aqua Chiquita (Little Water creek). US Forest Service has built metal fences with padlocked gates to keep cattle from accessing water from the spring-fed stream. (Seems ironic they can build fences to control cattle and ranchers but refuse to finish the border fence to control illegal aliens and drug traffic.)

The County Commissioners voted to order the Sheriff to cut the locks, allowing ranchers to access water for their livestock. According to the Forest Service, the fence was built to preserve the “wetlands” of the area. The frustration continues to grow and no resolution appears to be in sight. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) said what’s happening in Otero County is another example of overreach by the federal government. “These disputes could be easily avoided if federal bureaucrats would stick to their constitutional oath and respect property rights,” he said. [via Western Ag Reporter]

County Commissioner Tommy Herrell called the agency’s actions tyranny, he said the Forest Service is unwilling to temporarily open the gates while the parties search for long-term solutions.

Newest Monument: New Mexico
Just a couple hours drive southwest of Agua Chiquita near Las Cruces is another 500,000 acres just recently designated as a National Monument by President Obama. National Monuments, parks and wilderness areas in border states have long been corridors for criminal elements of all kinds coming up from Mexico. Via this Fox News story:

Dona Ana County Sheriff Tom Garrison told FoxNews.com the monument will likely hamper law enforcement’s ability to patrol the area. That’s because nearly half of the land will be set aside as wilderness. When that happens, the area will be largely closed off to vehicles, including police cars.

Garrison said his concerns have fallen on deaf ears, and says he’s been shut out of the process.

“They tell the media they have talked to law enforcement, but they haven’t talked to local law enforcement,” he said. “They haven’t talked to me. They talk to Border Patrol and Border Patrol tells [lawmakers and media] whatever Washington tells them to say.”

Again, local ranchers are concerned that the new designation will further restrict their leases and property rights. The Cliven Bundy story in Nevada is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Interesting Statistic: The United States Government directly owns 650 million acres of land. That’s 30% of the landmass of the entire 50 States, or almost 19 times the size of the state of Iowa!]

America, when “Federal Over-Reach” starts to limit your bank accounts, travel, and consumption of goods and services, perhaps you will remember these anecdotes. When your retirement accounts and pensions, along with your medical care, become subjected to these same types of controls perhaps you’ll realize it’s too late to do anything about it. It’s not about ranching, or coal mining, or even national monuments…


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Federal Over-reach Part 2: Bundy Ranch Commentary

19 04 2014

Quite a few friends and acquaintances have been asking for my take on the Bundy Ranch controversy in Nevada.  I have reserved much response until I felt I could express an honest and educated opinion.   I’ve read a lot of reports, watched a few video reports, and since I don’t get Fox News I haven’t seen much reporting on television that I can depend on to give any kind of honest critique that isn’t skewed by a pro-Obama, pro-Progressive ideology.  Today an article came across my screen that helped clarify the situation for me.  Even though I am “Johnny Come Lately” to the discussion, here goes!

As you know, the BLM backed down from a 2 week long standoff with the Bundy Family and a crowd of protesting supporters, some armed, some unarmed.  I was

Standoff in Nevada: Bundy supporters vs. BLM Rangers via Human Events

personally relieved to hear this news.  I really did not expect the Feds to de-escalate the situation.  Here we are burgeoning on the anniversary dates of Waco, Columbine, and the Oklahoma City bombing.  The recent KKK lunatic who attacked the Jewish Center’s in Kansas City, attempting to kill Jews and killing 3 Christians instead, has now added to the “weirdness” of April, not to mention Adolph Hitler’s birthday and Earth Day.  It would have been true to form had a backfiring truck engine, or an accidental weapon discharge initiated a massacre, similar to Wounded Knee.  Of course, as Senator Harry Reid cautioned, This ain’t over.  He is right about that.  But thankfully, a potential powder keg was diffused.

Speaking of Harry Reid, there are all kinds of strange ties and accusations flying about concerning his interests in the Bundy case.  Most of those ties lead to Chinese interests.  The Communist China energy giants China Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Sinopec have already bought large interests in almost 28 million acres of US petroleum development, all since Obama took office, reversing a Bush administration policy blocking China based on national security concerns.  (For reference that is half the size of the state of Iowa!) Chinese corporation ENN Energy Group, an alternative energy giant, is connected to a solar panel farm in Clark County Nevada, the same county as the Bundy Ranch, but not the same property.  Harry Reid’s son happens to work for ENN Energy.  (More on the Reid/China connection here at WND and this YouTube video)

Then there’s Reid’s connection to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  Former staffer for Harry Reid is Neil Kornze, now the head of BLM.  At the ripe age of 35, he has spent his career in government since college, probably never getting any dirt on his shoes.  None of this really bodes well for Harry.

My real concern is that the BLM, supposedly an environmental impact and administrative management office, is hiring contractors to confiscate private property (cattle) when they are not trained or equipped to manage or provide for the health and welfare of those cattle causing many of them to die (reportedly young calves were separated from their mothers during the gathering, mostly by helicopters), and shooting others outright.  Add to that the deployment of paramilitary spec-ops type “Rangers” who are directly employed by BLM, for the purpose of enforcement against private citizens.  (The Rangers were deployed before the militia or the crowd of protesting supporters arrived).

In a recent letter, dated April 15, and addressed to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director of the BLM, Texas Congressman Steve Stockman challenged the Administration, citing US Code that the BLM has no authority “to assume peremptory police powers, that role being reserved to the States” and that the federal government must “seek assistance from local law enforcement whenever the use of force may become necessary.”  Rep. Stockman goes further pointing out that it appears the the Secretary of the Interior has violated federal law by by-passing the local law enforcement offices.  Read Stockman’s letter here.

Whether Bundy is guilty of trespass, failure to pay fees, or whatever, this obvious over-reach by a federal administrative office seeking to enforce law by use of deadly force, or “peremptory police powers”, is very, very, dangerous.   The BLM spent over $3 million on the Bundy standoff.  According to documentary film-maker Dennis M. Lynch, he has not seen this much firepower deployed on the Southern border where drugs and people are routinely smuggled across.   “I never see the M-16’s down on the border stopping the drugs, and the terrorists, and the day laborers coming through on BLM property,” he says in this video.  Please watch it.  The BLM spent over $3 million on air and ground resources to lock down a piece of ground the size of Delaware.  This to confiscate 400 cattle with a current estimated value of about $350K which they then released.

Commentator Dana Loesch had this to say (via Human Events story “Cowmaggeddon“):

Dana Loesch also says mainstream media reporting about the immediate cause of the government’s futile cattle roundup is incorrect, as Cliven Bundy has not categorically refused to pay grazing fees:

“Those who say Bundy is a “deadbeat” are making inaccurate claims. Bundy has in fact paid fees to Clark County, Nevada in an arrangement pre-dating the BLM. The BLM arrived much later, changed the details of the setup without consulting with Bundy — or any other rancher — and then began systematically driving out cattle and ranchers. Bundy refused to pay BLM, especially after they demanded he reduce his [herd]’s head count down to a level that would not sustain his ranch.

Bundy OWNS the water and forage rights to this land. He paid for these rights. He built fences, established water ways, and constructed roads with his own money, with the approval of Nevada and BLM. When BLM started using his fees to run him off the land and harassing him, he ceased paying. So should BLM reimburse him for managing the land and for the confiscation of his water and forage rights?”

Then you can throw in a term called “prescriptive rights” and it is possible that Bundy may have a legal position that BLM is afraid of, according to this story on Benswaan.com.  According to Todd Devlin, a Montana rancher, and county commissioner with real working contacts in the Dept of Interior having taught workshops for the agency in the past, prescriptive right is similar to an easement across another property owner in order to access yours. I’ll let you read Ben Swaan’s story for yourself to understand it better.  Devlin also said the amount owed by Bundy is probably closer to $200K than the $1.1 million that BLM wants, which most likely is comprised of penalties and fines for trespass cattle.  Devlin went to BLM to find out why they weren’t using other channels to work with Bundy.  He said the logical and conventional means of collecting such debt is to place a lien on the cattle.  This will prohibit the sanctioned owner from selling the cattle. It’s kind of like the IRS garnishing your paycheck, or the bank imposing a lien on your car.  When asked why the BLM hadn’t placed a lien on the cattle in question, they responded, “We hadn’t thought of that…” But they are considering it now.

Wow…

I won’t even go into the “Free Speech Zones” that were cordoned off by BLM for the express purpose and intent of containing the citizens who were exercising their right of grievance against the government in a peaceful protest.  Silly me.  I thought America was a “free speech zone”…

 


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