Coos County Watchdog


  • Home >>>
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Links
    • Whistle-Blower’s Page
  • Blog >>>
    • Info Blogs
  • Issues >>>
    • Johnson Creek Dam
    • Jury Nullification >
      • Jury Nullification on Facebook
    • More Choices in Bandon
    • NO Bandon Marsh Expansion >
      • Bandon Marsh Expansion on Facebook
    • Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance >
      • S.A.S.O on FB
    • State of Jefferson >
      • State of Jefferson on Facebook
    • The Coos County Charter
    • Urban Renewal Information

EPA ~ Clean Water Rule is a Land-Grab by Obama Administration

5/28/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
News Releases from Headquarters 

Orders from "Big Brother" 

Clean Water Rule Protects Streams and Wetlands Critical to Public Health, Communities, and Economy Release Date: 05/27/2015
Contact Information: Robert Daguillard, (202) 564-6618, (202) 360-0476, daguillard.robert@epa.gov; En español: Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov, (202) 564-9924

Washington – In an historic step for the protection of clean water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule today to clearly protect from pollution and degradation the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources. The rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making permitting less costly, easier, and faster for businesses and industry. The rule is grounded in law and the latest science, and is shaped by public input. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for agriculture and maintains all previous exemptions and exclusions. “For the water in the rivers and lakes in our communities that flow to our drinking water to be clean, the streams and wetlands that feed them need to be clean too,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Protecting our water sources is a critical component of adapting to climate change impacts like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures – which is why EPA and the Army have finalized the Clean Water Rule to protect these important waters, so we can strengthen our economy and provide certainty to American businesses.”

“Today's rule marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the Clean Water Act,” said Assistant Secretary for the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy. “This is a generational rule and completes another chapter in history of the Clean Water Act. This rule responds to the public's demand for greater clarity, consistency, and predictability when making jurisdictional determinations. The result will be better public service nationwide."

People need clean water for their health: About 117 million Americans – one in three people – get drinking water from streams that lacked clear protection before the Clean Water Rule. America’s cherished way of life depends on clean water, as healthy ecosystems provide wildlife habitat and places to fish, paddle, surf, and swim. Clean and reliable water is an economic driver, including for manufacturing, farming, tourism, recreation, and energy production. The health of our rivers, lakes, bays, and coastal waters are impacted by the streams and wetlands where they begin. Protection for many of the nation’s streams and wetlands has been confusing, complex, and time-consuming as the result of Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006. EPA and the Army are taking this action today to provide clarity on protections under the Clean Water Act after receiving requests for over a decade from members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, scientists, and the public for a rulemaking. In developing the rule, the agencies held more than 400 meetings with stakeholders across the country, reviewed over one million public comments, and listened carefully to perspectives from all sides. EPA and the Army also utilized the latest science, including a report summarizing more than 1,200 peer-reviewed, published scientific studies which showed that small streams and wetlands play an integral role in the health of larger downstream water bodies. Climate change makes protection of water resources even more essential. Streams and wetlands provide many benefits to communities by trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, filtering pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Impacts from climate change like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures threaten the quantity and quality of America’s water. Protecting streams and wetlands will improve our nation’s resilience to climate change. Specifically, the Clean Water Rule:


    · Clearly defines and protects tributaries that impact the health of downstream waters. The Clean Water Act protects navigable waterways and their tributaries. The rule says that a tributary must show physical features of flowing water – a bed, bank, and ordinary high water mark – to warrant protection. The rule provides protection for headwaters that have these features and science shows can have a significant connection to downstream waters.
    · Provides certainty in how far safeguards extend to nearby waters. The rule protects waters that are next to rivers and lakes and their tributaries because science shows that they impact downstream waters. The rule sets boundaries on covering nearby waters for the first time that are physical and measurable.
    · Protects the nation’s regional water treasures. Science shows that specific water features can function like a system and impact the health of downstream waters. The rule protects prairie potholes, Carolina and Delmarva bays, pocosins, western vernal pools in California, and Texas coastal prairie wetlands when they impact downstream waters.
    · Focuses on streams, not ditches. The rule limits protection to ditches that are constructed out of streams or function like streams and can carry pollution downstream. So ditches that are not constructed in streams and that flow only when it rains are not covered. · Maintains the status of waters within Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The rule does not change how those waters are treated and encourages the use of green infrastructure. · Reduces the use of case-specific analysis of waters. Previously, almost any water could be put through a lengthy case-specific analysis, even if it would not be subject to the Clean Water Act. The rule significantly limits the use of case-specific analysis by creating clarity and certainty on protected waters and limiting the number of similarly situated water features.


A Clean Water Act permit is only needed if a water is going to be polluted or destroyed. The Clean Water Rule only protects the types of waters that have historically been covered under the Clean Water Act. It does not regulate most ditches and does not regulate groundwater, shallow subsurface flows, or tile drains. It does not make changes to current policies on irrigation or water transfers or apply to erosion in a field. The Clean Water Rule addresses the pollution and destruction of waterways – not land use or private property rights. The rule protects clean water necessary for farming, ranching, and forestry and provides greater clarity and certainty to farmers about coverage of the Clean Water Act. Farms across America depend on clean and reliable water for livestock, crops, and irrigation. The final rule specifically recognizes the vital role that U.S. agriculture serves in providing food, fuel, and fiber at home and around the world. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for America’s farmers. Activities like planting, harvesting, and moving livestock have long been exempt from Clean Water Act regulation, and the Clean Water Rule preserves those exemptions. The Clean Water Rule will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.


More information: www.epa.gov/cleanwaterrule and http://www.army.mil/asacw


Related Posts:
EPA ~ Another Government Agency Using Children like Guinea Pigs
#DEQ ~Eats Crow & Proposes Temporary Revisions to Greenhouse Gas Permitting
DEQ---Extends Public Comment to August 28 for Proposed Air Quality Permitting  
DEQ---Public Comments by July 31, 2014 Proposed Revisions Air Quality Permitting
EPA---Public Comments on Proposed Water Rule to Make Federal Land Grabs Easier 
EPA---Public Comment on Disapproval of OR Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control 
SCOTUS---Did EPA Overstep on Global Warming 
EPA---Public Comments on New Stricter Performance Standards for wood heaters
Federal Legislative Action Alert:  Vote YES on S.890 to Protect Private Property
The Natural Resources Report---Two Stories Showing Cause and Effect
EPA---Article in the Western Mining Alliance Newsletter on Oregon Spotted Frog
EPA---Victims of Government: The Case of Steve Lathrop, Sounds Familiar
Port Orford---Government Ownership equals Poverty and hungry children
The Nature Conservancy---Contact the Oregon Leadership Team 

The Nature Conservancy---Oregon Grasslands: Crucial for Wildlife Survival‏
The Bandon Marsh  Mosquito Farm
USFWS---Public Responses to the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Invasion
Letter to Mr. Lowe of the USFWS about the Bandon Marsh Mosquitoe  Problem
Department of Interior---Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations AKA The Coquilles
Comments

ODFW ~ Drought prompts earlier trout release on Oregon coast

5/22/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Drought prompts earlier trout release on Oregon coast


Drought prompts earlier trout release on Oregon coast

May 22, 2015

TILLAMOOK, Ore. – In what may be the first of many drought-related activities this year, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife rescheduled the planned release of trophy trout in five North Coast lakes.

The release of 1,550 two-pound trout, originally set for September, was rescheduled to an earlier date as the result of low water flows at ODFW’s Nehalem Hatchery. The fish will be stocked in the same locations – Cape Meares, Town, Coffenbury, Lost and Sunset lakes – only now they will be released at a smaller size, less than one pound each. These trout will be released just prior to Free Fishing Weekend, which will take across Oregon June 6-7.

ODFW is not able to raise the trout to “trophy” size because of low water flows at the hatchery, which is fed by the North Fork Nehalem River. The North Fork is a tributary of the Nehalem River, which is currently running about 33 percent of normal flow for this time of year.

“We don’t usually see streams this low until late June or July,” said Robert Bradley, ODFW fish biologist. “We just haven’t had the rain that we need to maintain river flows.”

The trout are being moved out of the Nehalem Hatchery early, according to Bradley, to make sure there is enough water to support steelhead and salmon that will be reared at the facility until they can be released next spring.

###

Contact:

Robert Bradley (503) 842-2741, ext. 253
Rick Swart (971) 673-6038


Related Posts:
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Presentation on Winter Lake Restoration Project
Family Fishing event featured during Family Fun Day ‏
Watchdog Keeps ODFW on Track with Rebuttal on Land-Use Issue
ODFW ~ Cormorant hazing aims to protect young fish ‏
USFWS ~ Email Exposes ODFW Lie About the Winter Lake Restoration Project
Fred Messerle Bankrupting Beaver Slough Drainage District to Harass Neighbor  
ODFW ~ Permit for the Winter Lake/China Creek Project,  Messerle Named Manager  
ODFW ~ Purchases Private Property for Wetland Restoration "Mosquito Preserve"
ODFW ~ Commission to Consider Land Grab in Willamette Valley December 5, 2014
#ODFW~ Public Meetings in October for 2015 Groundfish & Sport Halibut Seasons 
#ODFW to host public meetings on commercial nearshore fishery September
OFF~Lead Ammo Ban Update #ODFW Skirting Extreme Environmental Agenda
#ODFW Director Elicker takes Leadership Position with #USFWS =Government Graft
#ODFW~Popular Charleston boat ramp re-opens for fall salmon angling Sept. 2, 2014
Wrangling Over Water~The Story of the Johnson Creek Damn in #CoosCounty
ODFW---Fish and Wildlife Commission sends ODFW budget to Governor, Too Much
Weyerhaeuser Offers Company Forestland for Recreational Access 
ODFW---Letter to Hunters on an All-Out Ban on Lead Ammo-Public Comment Needed
OFF---Ban on Lead Ammo Is on the Horizon
ODFW--- Adopt the Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management plan
Comments

LTE ~Deliberate Misinformation By Oregonian Eugene Readers Take Notice

5/21/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Subject:  Deliberate Misinformation Sanctioned By Oregonian Media Group Chief N. Christian Anderson III. Eugene Readers Take Notice. ‏
May 21, 2015


When the boss knows that an employee has deliberately or inadvertently made a decision that misleads his customers and yet sanctions or even encourages that behavior by taking no action to correct the employee’s misdeeds then the boss carries the weight of that wrongdoing not the employee because it has then become company policy.

Oregonian Media Group Chief N. Christian Anderson III is soon to depart for Eugene where he will impose his brand of journalistic standards upon his new employees at the Register-Guard. Readers and writers take notice.

Here is a portion of Oregonian Media Group Chief N. Christian Anderson III’s journalism legacy.
A. Sanctioned the deliberate misuse of Affordable housing* as a substitute for Public housing** which are clearly NOT the same.
B. Sanctioned by never acknowledging much less challenging the prevailing and operative policy of Targeted, UNLIMITED Neighborhood Concentration of Public Housing which allows government to load any neighborhood with up to 100% Public Housing clients.
C. Sanctioned opposition to coverage of a reasonable, equitable and defensible policy goal that would establish a 5% minimum and 15% maximum of Public Housing clients in every neighborhood in Multnomah county.
D. Sanctioned the withholding of meaningful, accurate, complete and timely Public Housing and market rate Affordable Housing Statistical Data, from the people, the press - including the Oregonian, elected officials - including the Oregon legislators and governor Brown, without which there can be no fact based, defensible public housing policy conversation and debate.
E. Sanctioned support for transporting endless millions of tons of coal through Portland, Eugene and many other parts of Oregon.
F. Sanctioned publishing incorrect information to voters without correction regarding Portland Public School board elections - see below.

On two occasions, after I had criticized his staff and Anderson for deliberately misusing language and misdirecting readers, he criticized me, the messenger, but not the message. At no time has Oregonian Media Group Chief N. Christian Anderson III ever responded to me with EVIDENCE or even an unsubstantiated denial that any of the statements of facts mentioned above were untrue.

I cannot speak to Anderson’s business skills. However, I am qualified to judge his decisions involving journalistic integrity, publishing the truth and respect for his readers. On that score I say, Beware readers of the Register-Guard.


Richard Ellmyer
North Portland
Reader/Writer

P.S.
To be fair, most of Oregonian Media Group Chief N. Christian Anderson III’s professional journalistic choices mentioned above have been made by most other corporate media chieftains in the Portland metro area. Please let me know if you find any reporter who asks school board members and candidates which voters can vote for them and whose interests they represent once elected.

Will N. Christian Anderson III’s successor follow in his footsteps? Stay tuned.


*
AFFORDABLE HOUSING is a mathematical construct defined as, Rent/Mortgage + Insurance + Taxes + Utilities <=30% Household Income. EVERY house, condo and apartment is AFFORDABLE to someone.
**
PUBLIC HOUSING is a class of housing defined as, Means Test (<=80%MFI) + Government Subsidy (any government any type) + rental agreement.


***************
From:Richard Ellmyer
To: Interested Parties Cc: Betsy Hammond N. Christian Mark Katches
Date:May 17, 2015 11:55 AM
Subject:Oregonian Says PPS Board ONLY Represents Their Districts NOT All PPS Taxpayers

Why are so few willing to run for school board in Oregon?
May 17, 2015 By Betsy Hammond
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2015/05/why_are_so_few_willing_to_run.html#incart_most-commented_opinion_article

“She wants to serve children in her community, including her own fourth-grade son and twin second-graders, she said.” [And therein lies the problem. School boards should be about serving the interests of the taxpayers in the school district.

The vast majority of taxpayers do not have students in public schools. We pay for the education of the children of strangers because it is in our COMMUNITY'S interest to NOT have hordes of ignorant, unemployable, low information voters wandering about our neighborhoods.

The education of children is FOR THE COMMUNITY. It is NOT For The Children nor the convenience of their parents.]


Published Comment
"In Portland, the incumbent representing Southwest Portland is stepping down" Shame on you Betsy Hammond. You know better than to tell your readers that any PPS board member "represents" the district in which they live. PPS board members are supposed to represent every taxpayer in the PPS voting district.

It's bad enough that your colleagues writing about housing policy deliberately mislead Oregonian readers about Public versus Affordable housing. But you have been at this too long to make such a mistake in PPS board representation.


Richard Ellmyer
North Portland

REPLY - May 17, 2015 9:18 PM

O.K. Betsy, It's been long enough. Either correct your error about PPS board members representing districts in a reply to my comment or reply and tell me I'm wrong. Your professional credentials are on the line here. And that of your editor and the editor and publisher of the Oregonian.

This BIGGEST problem with the PPS board, and perhaps other school boards throughout out state, is not the number of candidates but the number of candidates who totally dismiss their OBLIGATION to represent the interests of all the taxpayers of their school district.

When was the last time YOU reminded your readers that school board members do NOT ONLY represent those taxpayers who have children in any given school system?

When was the last time ANY REPORTER in Oregon reminded their readers that school board members do NOT ONLY represent those taxpayers who have children in any given school system?

When was the last time ANY EDITORIAL BOARD in Oregon reminded their readers that school board members do NOT ONLY represent those taxpayers who have children in any given school system?

The answer to these questions is NEVER. Think about that.

PPS board members and candidates please feel free to speak up and support Betsy's statement that you are elected to represent a specific district and not every taxpayer in the PPS district. I'm sure all the readers of this article would be interested in your responses.


Richard Ellmyer
North Portland


-- Note to readers:
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America not only guarantees American citizens free speech but also the right "to petition the government for redress of grievances." This means that elected officials are not required to respond to or even read, listen or view citizen communications. But it does mean that elected officials cannot preemptively stop citizens from contacting them by any means, be it by visit, phone, package, letter, email or marching in front of their offices.

Every elected official serving in the United States of America either explicitly or implicitly affirms support for the Constitution of the United States of America. If you are an elected official in the U.S. who can produce evidence that you do NOT support the Constitution of the United States of America and therefore are NOT subject to the First Amendment then please notify me immediately.

In the more than thirteen years that I have been writing and publishing these commentaries about our community better than 99.5% of those receiving my emails are, in fact, interested. The numbers range from a handful to hundreds of thousands depending on the issue of the day.

The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 also known as the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 specifically exempts political speech. It was authored by senator Ron Wyden. A call to his staff will clarify this legislation. Over the last eleven years only a handful of the most egregious commercial violators have successfully been tried and convicted. The law did not work as many of us who helped develop it had hoped. Spam, as defined in this act, is an international problem which requires an international solution. Signed emails with true headers whose content is related to government and politics that the receiver considers "bothersome" are not spam.

If you would like to forward this message to someone who may be interested, please do not use the forward button of your email application, because this message was made specifically for you only. Instead use the forward page in our newsletter system.



Comments

LTE ~Operators and Controllers of Sewage, not Geese

5/21/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Subject: Letter to Editor

Coos Bay has a large number of people knowledgeable concerning the managing and control of Geese. Just observe in the local newspaper editorial page over the last month. I wonder if that same knowledge extends to their sewer bill, no body writes about that.

They know Geese, honk, fly, swim, bite, dump brownish green stuff on the ground. Watch the kids, don't go to close. Good things to know. That dumped stuff, when humans do it in a sewer system, it is translated into sewer fee charges to process for release/discharge from the sewer plant.

Operators and controllers of sewage, average the strength of domestic sewage, and measure it by milligrams per liter of (BOD), biological oxygen demand, and total suspended solids (TSS). WHAT? Thus, each user is assigned to a class (classification), proportionate to system demands, and billed under that classification a proportionated cost to treat the wastewater, based on amount of water used.

Now you know all there is to know about Geese and all you ever wanted to know concerning the charges on your water bill for sewer use. Now get out there and watch them Geese.

Thanks

Carol Taylor


Related Posts:
LTE ~ Coos Bay waste water plants suffers financially 
LTE ~ Coos Bay Sewer Fees Over the Next 5 Years
LTE ~ Coos Bay Officials bring Citizens in Line by Taxing Them
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
BOC ~ Releases Coos County Strategic Plan
Sweet admits that community service fess are derivatives of tax dollars ‏
MGX ~ More Articles & Latest News from Mary Geddry
MGX ~ Interesting Proposition for the Voters of Coos County and a Petition
MGX ~ Cribbins & Sweet Entertain Awarding County Crony with $15,000 Raise
Less than 24 Hours After Election & the Sweet Deals Start Rolling Out in #CoosCounty
MGX ~ Sweet's Campaign is Getting Desperate to Turn to the Walrus
Candidate Don Gurney is the Right Choice for Coos County Commissioner
OPRD ~ Fascinating Email Exchange Involving Stuntzner, Sweet, & Bandon Biota
LTE ~ Sweet Deals for Sweet Vote for Don Gurney for #CoosCounty Commissioner
MGX ~ Cribbins, Wiese, Heaton & Political Elite Show True Colors & Insult Public
Coos County Commissioner John Sweet & Mayor Of #Bandon Misleading the Public
John Sweet Lied, Mosquitoes Did Not Die ~ Mosquito Meeting October 23, 2014
LTE~ Vote for Don Gurney for #CoosCounty & Stop Appeasing the #USFWS
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Commissioner Candidate Refuses to Disclose Answers to a Questionnaire
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
LTE ~ Why do #CoosCounty Commissioners Support Failed Economic Policies
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
Officials Obscuring Facts on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Infestation
Yes to LNG, No to the CEP

Comments

OFF ~ Money Well Spent ‏ More Gun Bills Pass the Senate

5/21/2015

Comments

 
Picture
05.19.15


 Today the Oregon Legislature passed two bills.  The Senate Rules Committee passed SB 525 to the full Senate floor and the House Judiciary passed SB 385 to the full House floor.



SB 525 does for domestic violence victims what SB 385 does to protect Municipal and Justice Courts.  Absolutely nothing.

Everything in both these bills is already in existing law. In both cases the proponents of the bills (often judges and other legal "professionals") displayed such breathtaking ignorance of the law, or a simple willingness to lie, that it makes you hope you never have to go to court.  We are seeing a spate of pointless and redundant legislation that is nothing but a squandering of your money.

In the House Judiciary Committee, only Rep. Bill Post, who is the most junior member and one of only two who was never a cop or a lawyer pointed out the flaws in SB 385.  The other members and staff who were lawyers, told him he was wrong. But he wasn't. He got it right. The lawyers screwed up.

Tomorrow, as we told you, House Judiciary is scheduled to hear another pointless waste of time. Mark Hass's SB 913.

We believe with enough input, this nonsensical bill can be killed. But you can never underestimate the willingness of some folks to spend other people's money. 



Related Posts:
Noncompliance Rally High Noon On the Coos Bay Boardwalk Sunday, May 31 2015 
Cribbins & Sweet Snub Second Amendment Supporters Again
History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
OFF ~ The Clown Parade Rolls On ‏
BOC ~ Work Session Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Wed. May 13, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
County Clerk Approves Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance for Ballot Title
LTE ~ Coos County could take a lesson from the City of Myrtle Point
Second Amendment Preservation Meeting Saturday, March 14, 2015
Second Amendment Victory in Myrtle Point

Comments

Rally Around The Flag in Cottage Grove Saturday June 20, 2015

5/21/2015

Comments

 

Comments

Trans Pacific Partnership Town Hall Coos Bay Friday May 22, 2015  

5/20/2015

Comments

 
Picture
There will be a town hall on 5/22 to discuss what the Trans Pacific Partnership is, how it will affect us and how we can fight it. I expect that this will attract a wide range of people from local union leaders to members of Americans For Prosperity concerned about national sovereignty.






The event will be at the Coos Bay Fire Hall, 450 Elrod at 7 PM.
Please help spread the word.

Rick


In solidarity for peace and justice,

Rick Staggenborg, MD
Board President, Take Back America for the People
Founder, Soldiers For Peace International
http://www.soldiersforpeaceinternational.org/2011/01/asymmetrical-warfare.html

Coos Bay, OR
541-217-8044


Comments

Merkley Bandon Town Hall on Trans Pacific Partnership Wednesday May 27, 2015

5/20/2015

Comments

 
Picture
On May 27,

I'll be hosting a town hall at Bandon High School. Come to discuss the pending "Fast Track" trade deal, the Trans Pacific Partnership or any other issue.

Also, if you are running into red tape accessing veterans benefits, dealing with the Social Security or Medicare administrations, or facing foreclosure, my office will have caseworkers on hand who may be able to help.



What:
Coos County Town Hall

When:
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
9:00 am

Where:
Bandon High School
455 9th Street SW
Bandon, OR 97411

Get Directions here

Thank you, and I look forward to meeting you.

All my best,
Jeff


Comments

Noncompliance Rally High Noon On the Coos Bay Boardwalk Sunday, May 31 2015 

5/20/2015

Comments

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/762209310564487/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1570101399924957/

https://www.facebook.com/cooscountysecondamendmentordinance?ref=hl




Related Posts:
Cribbins & Sweet Snub Second Amendment Supporters Again
History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
OFF ~ The Clown Parade Rolls On ‏
BOC ~ Work Session Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Wed. May 13, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
County Clerk Approves Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance for Ballot Title
LTE ~ Coos County could take a lesson from the City of Myrtle Point
Second Amendment Preservation Meeting Saturday, March 14, 2015
Second Amendment Victory in Myrtle Point

Comments

Cribbins & Sweet Snub Second Amendment Supporters Again

5/19/2015

Comments

 
Picture
May 18, 2015  

Cribbins & Sweet Snub Second Amendment Supporters Again  

The Committee to Preserve the Second Amendment will be having a meeting this Saturday in the North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman in North Bend at 1:00 pm, May 23, 2015 to discuss the progression of the petition to put a Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance on a countywide ballot in September.  

At the regular Coos County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 5, the two attending members of the board, Cribbins & Main, agreed to meet with members of the CPSA during a work session.  There was supposed to be a discussion on enacting the ordinance through a vote of the board, so the county would have the measure in-place before the state legislature created any more laws limiting the rights of the people to bear arms, especially concerning the background checks bill on private transfers of firearms.   

The secretary scheduled the work session for Wednesday, May 13.  She sent the notice out to all interested parties a week in advance of the meeting giving ample time for all the commissioners to give notice of any possible absence.  Three hours before the meeting it was cancelled by Commissioners Mellissa Cribbins & John Sweet due to a conflict of scheduling.  It seems the two commissioners snubbed second amendment supporters again.  The first time was when the Board refused to pass a resolution against SB941 back in February.  The second snub comes from not keeping their agreement to meet with the organization proving that these two do not care about the concerns of their constituents.   

State Senator Arnie Roblan voted in favor of SB941 and he supported the “emergency clause” addendum, which made it impossible for the voters of Oregon to file a Referendum.   

Since the people of Coos County have two commissioners and one Senator who does not appreciate their rights, it is time to start talking seriously about recalling all three members of this political elite class and replacing them with representatives who understand their oath of office and duty to uphold the US and Oregon Constitution.    

Everyone is invited, particularly those who would like to be actively involved in any recall efforts.  It is going to take a wide-range of community support for this type of political maneuver to be successful.  Anyone wanting to donate to the cause can send a check or money order to The Committee to Preserve the Second Amendment at PO Box 973, Bandon OR, 97411 and please add your occupation and employers phone number for proper verification.  To find out more information go to CoosCountyWatchdog.com, or like our page on Facebook.com/CoosCountySecondAmendmentOrdinance.   

High Noon on Sunday, May 31, at the Coos Bay Boardwalk there will be a noncompliance rally to oppose SB941.  “I will not Comply with SB941 Rally” Blogger, Mike Vanderbough, of the Sipsey Street Irregulars will be one of many guest speakers.  Please bring banners, flags and an attitude that it is time to defend the right that protects all the other rights, The Second Amendment.   

Sincerely, Rob Taylor 


Related Posts:
History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
OFF ~ The Clown Parade Rolls On ‏
BOC ~ Work Session Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Wed. May 13, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
County Clerk Approves Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance for Ballot Title
LTE ~ Coos County could take a lesson from the City of Myrtle Point
Second Amendment Preservation Meeting Saturday, March 14, 2015
Second Amendment Victory in Myrtle Point

Comments

IMPORTANT ~ BLM Open House on Draft Plan for Western Oregon Thurs. May 28,

5/16/2015

Comments

 
Picture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  OR120-15-11                             
Contact:  Megan Harper
541-751-4353
May 12, 2015                                                                             
BLM Offers Open House for Draft Plan for Western Oregon

Coos Bay, Ore. – The Coos Bay District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering an opportunity for the public to learn about the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for western Oregon forests. 

An open house will be held at the Mill Casino Hotel in the Salmon Room from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. The Mill Casino Hotel is located at 3201 Tremont Street, North Bend, Oregon, 97459. BLM staff will be on hand to provide information about the draft plan and answer questions. 

This is one of a series of open houses and workshops taking place in western Oregon to encourage public participating in the planning process. Members of the public have until July 23, 2015 to provide written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS through the internet, email or postal mail.

The Draft RMP/EIS for western Oregon addresses a range alternatives for the purposes of producing a sustained yield of timber, contributing to the recovery of threatened and endangered species, providing clean water, restoring fire adapted ecosystems, providing for recreation opportunities, and coordinating the management of lands surrounding the Coquille Forest with the Coquille Tribe. 

The Draft RMP/EIS explains why the BLM is proposing a plan revision, presents a full spectrum of management alternatives, and analyzes the environmental effects of the alternatives. Based on this analysis and comments that the agency receives on the Draft RMP/EIS, the BLM will prepare a Proposed RMP/Final EIS with the assistance of cooperating agencies. 

“Some of the most productive forests in the world are managed by the BLM in western Oregon,” said BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Jerry Perez. “These forests provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and clean water. I encourage everyone to take a look at these documents, attend a public meeting, or explore the many online resources.”

To view the Draft RMP/EIS, submit comments, and see where other open houses and workshops are planned across western Oregon, please visit our website at:

http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public land.

-BLM-

Megan Harper
Public Affairs SpecialistCoos Bay District 
Bureau of Land Management541-751-4353

Challenge to the Venue Conversation

On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 4:07 PM, Rob Taylor <obetewic@msn.com> wrote:
Hello Mary Gautreaux,
mary_gautreaux@wyden.senate.gov

 
I just received this email invitation for the BLM Open House for the Draft Plan for Western Oregon.   Many of us have been interested and deserve to attend this meeting, but the event is being held at The Mill Casino. 
 
The Mill happens to be owned by The Coquille Indians and the land is a sovereign nation.  It would be the equivalent of holding the meeting in Canada.  In addition, many people are religious and will not partake due to their beliefs opposing vices, or establishments for vice, of all sorts.  Their concerns should be taken into consideration.   
 
Please, do something to make sure that this event takes place in a more neutral arena without a controversial nature.   Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely,
Rob Taylor
From: m1harper@blm.gov
Date: Thu, 14 May 2015 13:37:09 -0700
Subject: Re: FW: BLM Offers Open House for Draft Plan for Western Oregon - Coos Bay District BLM News
To: obetewic@msn.com
CC: mary_gautreaux@wyden.senate.gov; pburke@blm.gov; blm_or_rmp_records_hdgp@blm.gov

Hi Rob,
In making arrangements for the Open House in North Bend/Coos Bay for the Draft Resource Management Plan, The Mill Casino Hotel was the only venue available that could meet our schedule and logistical needs. The event is public and open to all who wish to attend. There are also fourteen other RMP open houses and workshops planned across western Oregon in May and June. The complete schedule is located at http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/meetings.php. If you do not wish to attend the meeting in Coos Bay, perhaps one of these other meetings will meet your needs.
Lastly, we are available to talk with you at your convenience about the draft management plan and any questions/concerns you would like to share, if you are interested. 
Sincerely,Megan
Megan HarperPublic Affairs SpecialistCoos Bay District 
Bureau of Land Management541-751-4353
On Thu, May 14, 2015 at 2:03 PM, Rob Taylor <obetewic@msn.com> wrote:
Hello Megan, 
I just talked to Rosie at the North Bend Community Center and she claims they have it available for use.  It seems you gave a misleading answer, because the community center would have been fine for this meeting and it would not have the controversial nature, such as The Mill. 
 
The Community Center is still available if you really wanted to meet the needs of taxpayers who do not want to go to  a Casino to see what their government is up to, or is that the real intentions of the BLM?   Please try to change the venue and do not use the Mill again for these types of meetings.  This is to be considered an Official Complaint.  
 
North Bend Community Center
Directions
From: m1harper@blm.gov
Date: Thu, 14 May 2015 14:15:32 -0700
Subject: Re: BLM Offers Open House for Draft Plan for Western Oregon - Coos Bay District BLM News
To: obetewic@msn.com
CC: mary_gautreaux@wyden.senate.gov; pburke@blm.gov; blm_or_rmp_records_hdgp@blm.gov

Hi Rob,
The meeting requires some technological needs that are not available at the community center or the library. We plan to keep the meeting at The Mill. Again, the meeting is open to everyone, and I also offer up the opportunity to attend one of the other meetings in the area or we are happy to meet with you in person. 
Megan
Megan HarperPublic Affairs SpecialistCoos Bay District 
Bureau of Land Management541-751-4353
On Thu, May 14, 2015 at 2:49 PM, Rob Taylor <obetewic@msn.com> wrote:
 Hello Megan,
 
I will be sure to attend the meeting.  Let me know in advance the next time the BLM needs a meeting place.  I'm sure we can find a nice Bordello, or Crack house in the area that is if the DEA has not reserved it first.   
 
Have a good day  
Sincerely,
Rob Taylor
Related Posts:
Rural Organizing Project Ignorantly Attacks Oath Keepers for Defending Miners
Two Bills on Wetlands in Oregon Legislature SB544 Protects Landowners
Stop DOI's Demand for Permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
OR Legislation to Transfer Federal Lands Back to State HB3444 ~ HB3240 ~ HJM13
Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting Discussing NMS on May 7, 2015
Bill in Oregon Legislature Transfers Federal Lands Back to the Locals
USFWS ~ Email Exposes ODFW Lie About the Winter Lake Restoration Project
ODFW ~ Purchases Private Property for Wetland Restoration "Mosquito Preserve"
USFS ~ Forces Skamania County to Declare Forest Management November 12, 2014 
O&C :Urgent" Public Comment Tell Wyden You Oppose his Deal to Environmentalist
#ODFW Director Elicker takes Leadership Position with #USFWS =Government Graft
Forest Access for All Responds to #USDA, #BLM, #USFS on Blue Mountain Closures
Explosive Minority Report~Billionaires Club Supporting the Environmental Movement
Oregonian Prints Article on Landowners & Eminent Domain for #JordanCove
NOAA Official Responds to Public Request for Answers on NMS Nomination Process
Letter to Editor---To Officials of Bandon, Discuss Coordination on the Marine Reserve 
BLM, USFWS, USFS, Using ESA to Intimidate, Bully & Threaten Citizens Rights 
Letter to Editor---Facts to Dispense with Reckless Claims of Local Paper on Sanctuary 

Comments

History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance

5/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
History of the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance of 2013 in Eastern Oregon
by L.E. Castillo


Beginning


When originally proposed to the county commissioners of Union county, the format of the ordinance was similar to the one page template ordinance issued by the 10th Amendment Center.  This proposed ordinance was tossed out, and instead the commissioners opted for a resolution, which stated they would “advocate for the preservation of the Second Amendment through the appropriate state and federal elected officials”.  In other words, they were not willing to use their authority to enact a local law that would protect the gun ownership rights of the people in their county, against state or federal unconstitutional mandates.

Outside Counsel and Input

The ordinance evolved.  To promote the idea, I began Lightmasters of Eastern Oregon with a friend.

We reached out to and received input from organizations like Oregon Firearms Federation, Gun Owners of America, and the Second Amendment Foundation.  

SAF was particularly helpful.  They gave us an idea of what type of ordinance to construct, something that would stand up in court.  Through them, we decided to adopt an ordinance that would deal with the issue of what counties have undisputed authority over, their own county resources.  The political statement of the ordinance deals with the duty of the people at the county level to stand up to unconstitutional mandates.  The action part of the ordinance deals with withdrawing county resources for such actions, and imposing a fine on violators within county boundaries.  This allows counties to step around the “state trumps county” issue, and essentially move straight to nullification by providing zero cooperation to outside agencies acting illegally under color of law.  

The “past, present or future” language adopted for the first draft of the ordinance was dropped, because it was thought to have the potential to present legal challenges in court.  Many laws were already on the books that somewhat put restrictions on the Second Amendment.  These were later studied, cited, and included.  Unlike the post 2012, EO's and proposed state bills, most of the old laws actually attempt to make sure an individual does not lose their right to bear arms easily.  Besides, most people were satisfied with gun laws prior to the hostile Second Amendment legislative hysteria preceding the Sandy Hook Massacre.

We received input from attorney Nick Dranias from the Goldwater Institute in Arizona, who reviewed the ordinance.  He brought in the language that includes a description showing how some of the current unconstitutional gun control proposals actually violate more amendments and statues than just the Second Amendment. 
In addition, Nick helped with the language of the sheriff making the determination on the unconstitutionality of new Second Amendment laws within his/her county.

Attorney Kelly Jaske of Jaske Law in Portland reviewed the ordinance and added the idea of local officials being indemnified against certain liability by enforcing it.  She also helped remove some unnecessary language.  She pointed us to specific preexisting gun laws.  In an email, she referenced Dillon's Rule, which inadvertently led to the Cooley Doctrine.  The former view holds that states have authority over county rule, where the latter - and more liberty-minded view - holds to the autonomy of local government. 
This is pertinent; since Oregon is a home-rule state, so we cite it on page one.

Both lawyers had a little concern about the “religious sounding” language we originally used in one of our drafts, because of what might happen in the Ninth Circuit Court.  We axed our language, and just quoted our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, which emphasizes immediately where our rights come from. 
That felt good.

Penalties

We received various comments from the lawyers and SAF about the penalties section in our first drafts.  We solved it.  The penalties section as it reads now is simply verbatim to what Oregon Statute allows for ordinances created by political subdivisions.  We opted for a Class A violation.  This can be modified by each county as desired.  

Other Counties

Many other similar ordinances and resolutions nationwide were looked at and a few borrowed from.  The spirit and language of the Carroll County, MD was especially helpful. 

Here are some: 
Ordinances:                                                                                        Resolutions: 


Carroll County, MD                                                                         Western States Sheriffs Association Cumberland County, PA                                             Dyer County, TN
Franklin County, IN                                                                        
Madison Co, TN
Kuna City, ID                                                                                   
Borough of Gilberton, PA
                                                                                                        
East Coventry Township, PA
                                                                                                        
McLeod County, MN
                                                                                                        
Baker County, OR




Another attorney recently reviewed and compared our ordinance to others nationwide.  He concluded it was the best one he could find.

OUR GOAL IS FOR EVERY COUNTY IN OREGON TO PASS SIMILAR ORDINANCES!
Coos County Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance 2015 ~ DateTime Stamped
File Size: 110 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Electronic Signature Sheet
File Size: 161 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Related Posts
OFF ~ The Clown Parade Rolls On ‏
BOC ~ Work Session Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Wed. May 13, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
County Clerk Approves Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance for Ballot Title
LTE ~ Coos County could take a lesson from the City of Myrtle Point
Second Amendment Preservation Meeting Saturday, March 14, 2015
Second Amendment Victory in Myrtle Point

Comments

LTE ~ Coos Bay waste water plants suffers financially 

5/11/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Letter to Editor:

Get the Facts, be informed and understand the Science. REF: http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/ page 9, Alternative for Replacement of Treatment Plant 2, and page 11, City Council meeting March 17, 2015. Educate yourself. Go to the City Council meetings, get involved, speak at the public comments. It is your tax and fee dollars paying for these continual waste water systems upgrades. The Councilors work for you!? 


While Coos Bay waste water plants suffers financially a continuum of changes, upgrades, and now a planned complete rebuild of # 2, and an upgrade of # 1, starting in several years,

most of the council, thinks they are locked into a decision on plant # 2, where they are feeling “we must go with the current plan” Complete new plant. Spend another 28 million, put the plant in a residential area, continuing dumping in the Bay, and process the sludge, class B, by spreading on fields in the area. 

Simply put, there is only one plant necessary for the whole region, Coos Bay, North Bend. That single plant would be dispersing treated sewer outflow into the Ocean providing greater dispersal. While the current three, single point source discharges from current plants, into the Coos River/Bay ecosystem provides nothing more than dumping into a polluted bathtub with poor drainage. 

Spending any more monies toward continuing the duplication of this network, is poor money following bad ideas. In a perfect world, a plant would be established on the North Spit and the plant # 2, Empire geography sewer area would go to that plant. Then instead of upgrading Plant # 1, it is piped to the North spit plant, and #1 is deactivated and removed. Sludge pipes from #2 to #1 are part of current plan. Made larger, sewage could be directed to plant #2 location, and on to the North Spit. 

Understanding, that the North Spit Plant initial design can be large enough to handle Plant #2 and #1, and expandable, at reasonable cost. An outflow into the Ocean has to be constructed. Plant design must meet anticipated Environment Protection Agency, EPA standards, current and into the future for Virus and Pathogen elimination or reduction. Dispersing into Salt water will be part of that solution. 

Sludge, resulting from sewage processing can be collected and standardized into Class A fertilizer. 

Denny Powell
737 N Broadway
Coos Bay OR 97420
541-269-7361

Here is the Web site.
Upper right shows the pages. Since items are added ofter, what may be on page 2 now, might be on page three or four in the future.
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/
pg 9 Alternative for Replacement of Treatment Plant 2
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=45df2c2bed31067f8898b97696c10e3b
pg 11  Council meeting.
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=bff80f6a5a51ff52c1b85c87df1f7b86
pg 2  Created Date: April 24, 2015Length: 00:36:32 Frank Williams Topics of Interest
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=bea7963cedb49309c4d8facc1dd43b81
Related Posts:
LTE ~ Coos Bay Sewer Fees Over the Next 5 Years
LTE ~ Coos Bay Officials bring Citizens in Line by Taxing Them
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
BOC ~ Releases Coos County Strategic Plan
Sweet admits that community service fess are derivatives of tax dollars ‏
MGX ~ More Articles & Latest News from Mary Geddry
MGX ~ Interesting Proposition for the Voters of Coos County and a Petition
MGX ~ Cribbins & Sweet Entertain Awarding County Crony with $15,000 Raise
Less than 24 Hours After Election & the Sweet Deals Start Rolling Out in #CoosCounty
MGX ~ Sweet's Campaign is Getting Desperate to Turn to the Walrus
Candidate Don Gurney is the Right Choice for Coos County Commissioner
OPRD ~ Fascinating Email Exchange Involving Stuntzner, Sweet, & Bandon Biota
LTE ~ Sweet Deals for Sweet Vote for Don Gurney for #CoosCounty Commissioner
MGX ~ Cribbins, Wiese, Heaton & Political Elite Show True Colors & Insult Public
Coos County Commissioner John Sweet & Mayor Of #Bandon Misleading the Public
John Sweet Lied, Mosquitoes Did Not Die ~ Mosquito Meeting October 23, 2014
LTE~ Vote for Don Gurney for #CoosCounty & Stop Appeasing the #USFWS
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Commissioner Candidate Refuses to Disclose Answers to a Questionnaire
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
LTE ~ Why do #CoosCounty Commissioners Support Failed Economic Policies
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
Officials Obscuring Facts on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Infestation
Yes to LNG, No to the CEP
Comments

OFF ~ The Clown Parade Rolls On ‏

5/11/2015

Comments

 
Picture
05.09.15
 

When SB 941, the universal gun registration bill, passed on Monday we told you to expect more gun legislation. Now we have it.

House Democrat Rep Brian Clem has introduced HB 3553.

This bill is the result of the "concessions" he claims to have extracted from leadership to buy his "yes" vote on the worst gun bill ever passed in Oregon.

Clem told us that he agreed to vote to destroy your liberty, your privacy, and your rights in exchange for these important changes in the bill. (Clem had originally signaled that he would vote "no" on the bill.)

So Clem teamed up with Democrat House Rep Paul Evans and introduced this "compromise." It is nothing short of comical.

(Keep in mind, Evans, who many were deluded into thinking was "pro-gun," has called for universal gun registration and also blatantly lied about the registration portion of SB 941. )

So what did Clem get in exchange for selling out the gun owners of his district and the state? He got a pathetic joke of a bill that gives Oregonians a "tax credit" for the fees they will be forced to pay the state in order to register their firearms, enter their personal info in a state police database and further the goal of future confiscation.

Clem and Evans seem to think that Oregonians are so stupid that they will see this absurd insult as a "pro gun" bill. 

Sorry guys, your transparent effort to rehabilitate yourselves after bowing to the Bloomberg money isn't fooling anyone.

If this is the best you can do after being slapped around by the Speaker, give it up.  We all know whose side you play for.

 
 


As you know there are recalls underway for three of the supporters of this bill. There may be more in the future.  Please do all you can to support these efforts.
 


Val Hoyle Recall

Chuck Riley/Susan McLain Recall


Related Posts
BOC ~ Work Session Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Wed. May 13, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters

Comments

Rural Organizing Project Ignorantly Attacks Oath Keepers for Defending Miners

5/10/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Dear ROPnetters,

One evening a couple weeks ago, I received a call from a human dignity group leader in Josephine County: "ROP! Help!"

The Oath Keepers of Josephine County, a local chapter of a national right-wing organization that recruits police, military, and others to "uphold their oath to the Constitution" and to refuse any orders that violate any constitutional rights, had put out a national call for "patriots" to converge just outside of Grants Pass. Two gold miners had received notice from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that they were out of compliance, and the gold miners reached out to the Josephine County Oath Keepers. A slew of folks from militia and extreme right-wing groups from across the country began posting Twitter updates and YouTube videos of themselves driving out to Josephine County for a "Bundy Ranch-style standoff with the government." The Southern Poverty Law Center's David Neiwert wrote a blog on Hatewatch that covers some of these early events.

Local leaders and I got on the phone and began contacting other Josephine County progressives to get their sense of the situation. Most folks hadn't heard anything about it. Some were scared and unwilling to even come to a meeting for fear of retaliation. Several folks agreed that, at a minimum, we should learn more about who was coming out to Josephine County and get a grasp on the situation. We set up a meeting time and got to work talking to anyone who would answer the phone, researching the background of Oath Keepers inside and outside of Josephine County, and reaching out to our national allies for support.

ROP reached out to our friends at Political Research Associates, a progressive think tank that tracks the Right, and they gave us the national picture of what the Oath Keepers stand for:

The Oath Keepers, included by the Southern Poverty Law Center in their list of Hate and Extremist Groups and its Patriot Movement Timeline, is one of the largest anti-government “patriot” groups in the nation.  The formation of Oath Keepers in 2009 capitalized on the emerging Tea Party movement and the “Ron Paul Revolution” to build their membership. In 2014, the organization claimed 40,000 members in chapters in all fifty states. Their stated enemy is the “tyranny of the federal government”. Their sister organization, the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, specifically recruits county sheriffs around this ideology. Both promote and train for resistance to “unconstitutional” actions of federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration.  But their top priority is fighting any type of gun control. Click here for the full profile.

Then there is Josephine County, where the complete dismantling and privatization of every piece of public infrastructure has either already happened or is on the brink of happening. The libraries were systematically dismantled a few years ago (they're privately operated now), and now county and local police forces are defunded to the point that they are understaffed, ineffective, and dissolving completely.

The Oath Keepers of Josephine County have been key players in manufacturing this crisis, providing leadership for the No New Taxes campaigns against public safety levies that would fund the Sheriff's Department; they then point out the lack of public safety infrastructure as an example of government failing the people.

The defunding and dismantling of law enforcement has created a vacuum that is being filled by vigilantes and self-proclaimed militias who are quick to state that they know "who belongs" in their communities, and who does not. The Oath Keepers have helped create "community preparedness teams" in this vacuum which respond to natural and "other" disasters -- a great idea on its face -- that really serves as an entry point for folks feeling genuine economic insecurity into the broader extreme right-wing movement and ideology.

Initially, the local media coverage was minimal because the Oath Keepers turned folks away from the mine and the Oath Keeper spokespeople repeated the same couple of talking points over and over -- a skillful strategy in controlling information in order to minimize community alarm. The result is that a lot people think this is just one miner and maybe a handful of folks causing a stink, while extreme right-wing groups and militias are being called to action from around the country.


Picture
A photo of the Oath Keepers' "security operation" at the Sugar Pine Mine.

None of the local media had any comment from anyone other than the BLM or the Oath Keepers. The Oath Keepers used the silence from the community as justification of their actions, saying, "Do you hear anyone complaining? We have the community's support." 

Right-wing media, however, has been allowed complete access to the mine and long interviews with local and national Oath Keeper leadership. What resulted is a right-wing media circus, issuing new calls for volunteers to come out to Josephine County to support the "security operation" every few days. 

Once a core group of Josephine County human dignity leaders got together and shared what they knew about the situation, they agreed -- the broader community needs to have a voice! They got to work on talking points, letters to the editor, and language for a signature ad:

We are Josephine County residents working to build a prosperous local economy and a safe environment in which to raise our families.  We are active community members, including teachers, farmers, business owners, faith leaders and parents who love our children.  Some of us have lived in this beautiful county our entire lives, while many of us have settled here after falling in love with it.  We may have diverse opinions, backgrounds and experiences, but we are all privileged to call this place home.

The events surrounding the Sugar Pine Mine are troubling to us, since it appears that what is in actuality a legal dispute has been construed by some individuals from outside our community as an opportunity to advance their own agenda.  Now is not the time for division, fragmentation, or an “every man for himself” attitude, but rather a time for us to come together to create the Josephine County we want and need.

We support a vision of a county where:

  • All can live in safety and without fear or intimidation
  • Democracy thrives and those living in the community decide who represent and speak for us
  • Problems are resolved peacefully through negotiation and with respect for all parties involved
Please join us in making this vision a reality.

On Thursday, April 24th, the Oath Keepers held a rally outside the BLM office in Medford, where they proclaimed to the 70 folks who showed up that they would continue their “security operations” at the mine until the miners had their day in court (which could be months from now). 

Josephine County human dignity leaders chewed on different ways to respond. A counter-rally? What about leafletting neighborhoods? They decided on holding a press conference to ensure that an alternative vision and some critical questions made it into the media sooner than later.



The day after the Oath Keepers’ rally in Medford, a dozen local community leaders stood on the steps of the Josephine County Courthouse in front of every single newspaper and TV station in the area. Five folks spoke: a local business leader, a retired dean of Rogue Community College, a faith leader, a recent transplant to the area, and a long-time resident.

The first speaker started with, “I want to acknowledge that it takes courage to be here today. One thing I think we all agree on is that we should not be afraid or intimidated within our own communities to speak to our neighbors. But that’s where we find ourselves today, and that in itself tells you that what’s happening here is wrong.”

Each speaker took the time to emphasize that there are many, many Southern Oregonians working hard to make their communities a better place to live and that it is a step backward to call for further dismantling of our services when Josephine County is already struggling to stay connected. Each shared their commitment to creating a thriving Josephine County and their vision of the community -- a place where folks work together to resolve problems civilly and democratically.

Instead of letting the community hold a calm press conference, the Oath Keepers arrived, including the previous sheriff, Gil Gilbertson, a member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The Oath Keepers interrupted the end of the press conference and then followed the press conference speakers as they retreated into the courthouse, shoving cell phones in the speakers’ faces, recording videos of the interactions. The Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch blog covered the press conference and the disruption in-depth here.

The speakers left the press conference galvanized. They were able to describe how a local situation was exploited to advance the Oath Keepers' national agenda to recruit, make a name for themselves, and fundraise, and offered an alternative vision for the community. The press conference exposed that these folks who claim to defend the Constitution would shut down community members trying to speak out by intimidating them and shouting over them. Every TV station and local paper ran a story that not only covered the great points made by community members, but also discussed the disruption by the Oath Keepers.

Folks in the community were inspired by their neighbors boldly naming their values. Folks from across the county began calling in, asking if they can write letters to the editor, collect signatures for the signature ad, and come to the next meeting.

As local leaders collect the final signatures for their signature ad, ROP has been pulling together leaders from across the state to discuss what they are seeing in their communities. This is where you come in! What have you heard locally? Do you have a “patriot” group in your community? How about an Oath Keepers chapter? Are they sending people and/or supplies out to Josephine County? Email me at jessica@rop.org and let's chat!

Keep an eye out for future ROPnets; we will be sharing more background information and updates on Josephine County's organizing over the next few weeks! Join local leaders from across the state as we continue the conversation about the growing militia and extreme right-wing movement in Oregon at our Rural Caucus & Strategy Session on Saturday, June 13th, in Woodburn!

Warmly,
Jessica


Related Posts:
Two Bills on Wetlands in Oregon Legislature SB544 Protects Landowners
Stop DOI's Demand for Permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
OR Legislation to Transfer Federal Lands Back to State HB3444 ~ HB3240 ~ HJM13
Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting Discussing NMS on May 7, 2015
Bill in Oregon Legislature Transfers Federal Lands Back to the Locals
USFWS ~ Email Exposes ODFW Lie About the Winter Lake Restoration Project
ODFW ~ Purchases Private Property for Wetland Restoration "Mosquito Preserve"
USFS ~ Forces Skamania County to Declare Forest Management November 12, 2014 
O&C :Urgent" Public Comment Tell Wyden You Oppose his Deal to Environmentalist
#ODFW Director Elicker takes Leadership Position with #USFWS =Government Graft
Forest Access for All Responds to #USDA, #BLM, #USFS on Blue Mountain Closures
Explosive Minority Report~Billionaires Club Supporting the Environmental Movement
Oregonian Prints Article on Landowners & Eminent Domain for #JordanCove
NOAA Official Responds to Public Request for Answers on NMS Nomination Process
Letter to Editor---To Officials of Bandon, Discuss Coordination on the Marine Reserve 
BLM, USFWS, USFS, Using ESA to Intimidate, Bully & Threaten Citizens Rights 
Letter to Editor---Facts to Dispense with Reckless Claims of Local Paper on Sanctuary 
Comments

LTE ~ Coos Bay Sewer Fees Over the Next 5 Years

5/10/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Ltr to Ed

Sewer fees, Coos Bay, over the next 5 years will be up to $86 per month per single house account, not including the water use billing. Several Councilors want to proceed with the current plan. Start sewer plant #2, Empire, new construction, summer 2015, just three months away. 

More public disclosure required, several public forums needed before anymore money is spent, and before anymore sewer fees are increased, more community and citizen envolvement in the process. Coos Bay Citizens show up at every council meeting going forward, speak your 3 minuets on your concerns of sewer fee increases, the current plan to rebuild Plant #2, cost and air quality safety concerns. These councilors work for you, tell them to put the plans, cost, on the table, and compare it with the plan offered by Dennis Beetham, of DB Western. Let the best solution be disclosed.

Are, the Coos Bay City Councilors barking up the correct wastewater solution tree? New information suggest wrong tree, wrong solution.

WOW! After 6 years barking at one tree, 7 million dollars borrowed, and several years of sewer fee increases of 6 percent per year, and a current purchase of $4.5, plus, million for a plant design, that only meets the requirement of putting less quality of pollutant in the bay, lesser than the polluted bay. 

Treatment plant #2, Empire, will be the third upgrade/rebuild of plants #1 & 2 in the last 30 years. All designed putting lesser quality of pollutant in the big tub, the Bay. What's that definition of doing the same thing over again to get a different result? While never addressing the real issues. 

Put Pollutants out to sea. The tub, Bay, itself has very low flow. Dumping into the bay from a “point source” sewer plant out flow with the above standard, is a problem, not a solution. 

Not addressed, Viruses, Pathogens, Sludge, to be a future EPA requirements, air pollution and a regional plant. Numerous plants in a defined geography area such as Coos Bay/North Bend, rebuilding and redesigning every 10 to 15 years is insane. 

Currently, the Councilor are not to impressed with this new information, or even the ideas presented here. 

All new ideas take time to absorbed and to be evaluated. Continuing to spend another $28 million at the wrong tree, when a solution of $24 million is on the table is truly insane. REF: http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/

Denny Powell

Resource Material:

pg 9 Alternative for Replacement of Treatment Plant 2
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=45df2c2bed31067f8898b97696c10e3b
pg 10  Council meeting.
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=bff80f6a5a51ff52c1b85c87df1f7b86
pg 2  Created Date: April 24, 2015Length: 00:36:32 Frank Williams Topics of Interest
http://coosmediacenter.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=bea7963cedb49309c4d8facc1dd43b81
Related Posts:
LTE ~ Coos Bay Officials bring Citizens in Line by Taxing Them
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
BOC ~ Releases Coos County Strategic Plan
Sweet admits that community service fess are derivatives of tax dollars ‏
MGX ~ More Articles & Latest News from Mary Geddry
MGX ~ Interesting Proposition for the Voters of Coos County and a Petition
MGX ~ Cribbins & Sweet Entertain Awarding County Crony with $15,000 Raise
Less than 24 Hours After Election & the Sweet Deals Start Rolling Out in #CoosCounty
MGX ~ Sweet's Campaign is Getting Desperate to Turn to the Walrus
Candidate Don Gurney is the Right Choice for Coos County Commissioner
OPRD ~ Fascinating Email Exchange Involving Stuntzner, Sweet, & Bandon Biota
LTE ~ Sweet Deals for Sweet Vote for Don Gurney for #CoosCounty Commissioner
MGX ~ Cribbins, Wiese, Heaton & Political Elite Show True Colors & Insult Public
Coos County Commissioner John Sweet & Mayor Of #Bandon Misleading the Public
John Sweet Lied, Mosquitoes Did Not Die ~ Mosquito Meeting October 23, 2014
LTE~ Vote for Don Gurney for #CoosCounty & Stop Appeasing the #USFWS
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Commissioner Candidate Refuses to Disclose Answers to a Questionnaire
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
LTE ~ Why do #CoosCounty Commissioners Support Failed Economic Policies
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
Officials Obscuring Facts on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Infestation
Yes to LNG, No to the CEP

Comments

BOC ~ Work Session Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Wed. May 13, 2015

5/9/2015

Comments

 
Related Posts
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
County Clerk Approves Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance for Ballot Title
LTE ~ Coos County could take a lesson from the City of Myrtle Point
Second Amendment Preservation Meeting Saturday, March 14, 2015
Second Amendment Victory in Myrtle Point
ACTION ALERT ~ Myrtle Point Voting On 2nd Amendment Resolution March 2, 2015
LTE ~ Betrayal of the People by County Commissioners, Cribbins & Sweet
Cribbins & Sweet Reject Second Amendment Preservation Resolution  
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting February 17, 2015 2nd Amendment Vote
Action Alert ~ Senate To Hear Roadblock Bill February 17, 2015, Comments Needed
OFF ~ The Fight In Your Backyard Demands a Call to Your County Officials‏
OFF ~ First Anti-Gun Measure Filed in Oregon ~ Initiative Petition #13

Comments

OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill Passes. ‏

5/6/2015

Comments

 
Picture
05.04.15 

SB 941 has passed the Oregon House. That was the last stop before it goes to the Governor who will sign it.

Today's debate was very long. The House Republicans gave it all they had. We are indebted to them, but, in spite of mountains of evidence that this bill will do nothing but hurt the law abiding, the House Democrats just continued to parrot the same tired lies they have been telling since the bill was introduced. Oregon will soon have one of the worst background check requirements in the country.

The carrier of the bill willfully mislead the chamber about what the bill did, but it really didn't matter. The minds were made up.

Three Democrats joined all the Republicans voting no. They were Jeff Barker, Brad Witt and Caddy McKeown. We appreciate their support.

Two Democrats we thought we could count on folded. They were Debbie Boone and Brian Clem.

We think at this point we will see more legislation related to this issue before the session is over, but that could turn out to be another false promise, or it could make things worse, but no matter what, we will keep you informed.

We want to say to each and every one of you who worked tirelessly and against the odds, that we are truly and deeply thankful. Your efforts were heroic in the face of a very deceitful majority.  We also want to say the battle does not end.  As you know, many counties and sheriffs are on record opposing this and we believe there are still opportunities to throw up roadblocks. We will be exploring all of them.

Now that the bill is passed, the clock is no longer ticking and we can take our time in planning responses.

But one thing won't wait. As you know there are recalls underway for three of the supporters of this bill. There may be more in the future.  Please do all you can to support these efforts.

Val Hoyle Recall

Chuck Riley/Susan McLain Recall
Related Posts
OFF ~ SB941 May NOT Have the Votes ~ Keep Calling & Emailing State Reps
Oregon Senate Passes Ivory Ban with one Republican Turncoat
OFF ~ SB941 GUN GRAB PASSES SENATE ‏ Call State Representative Not over Yet
OFF ~ Port Orford To Consider Pro-Gun Resolution ‏ Thanks To Councilor Brett Webb
Oregon Senator Cannot Function as a Normal Human Being
Places to Sign the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Petition
Action Alert ~ SB041 Heading for Senate Floor Monday April 13, 2015
Open Letter to the State of Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing SB941
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting Discussing SB941 Tuesday April 7, 2015
OFF ~ Gun Registration Bill SB 941Postponed Until Monday for Thatcher Amendment  
:Action Alert ~ UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION BILL INTRODUCED! ‏
Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
County Clerk Approves Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance for Ballot Title
LTE ~ Coos County could take a lesson from the City of Myrtle Point
Second Amendment Preservation Meeting Saturday, March 14, 2015
Second Amendment Victory in Myrtle Point
ACTION ALERT ~ Myrtle Point Voting On 2nd Amendment Resolution March 2, 2015
LTE ~ Betrayal of the People by County Commissioners, Cribbins & Sweet
Cribbins & Sweet Reject Second Amendment Preservation Resolution  
Action Alert ~ Coos County BOC Meeting February 17, 2015 2nd Amendment Vote
Action Alert ~ Senate To Hear Roadblock Bill February 17, 2015, Comments Needed
OFF ~ The Fight In Your Backyard Demands a Call to Your County Officials‏
OFF ~ First Anti-Gun Measure Filed in Oregon ~ Initiative Petition #13

Comments

Greenspeak the Vocabulary of the Environmentalist

5/4/2015

Comments

 
Greenspeak strategy: How the West will be lost?
Posted: 25 Apr 2015 07:05 AM PDT
by T.W. Scott 

For more than 50 years, there has been a growing campaign against the beneficial use of natural resources. The campaigners have several names: preservationists, conservationists, radical environmentalists, and greens. I will use “greens,” since it is rather inclusive and short. Years ago, it may have started as a movement to preserve some outstanding scenic or historic locations as parks, however it has expanded into a much more general opposition. The targets have been timber and mining, and more lately, hydro and even agriculture.

There are three main components to most of the campaigns: persuasion, litigation and legislation. Persuasion relies on greenspeak to convince and justify the litigation and legislation to follow. Greenspeakers use favorite words that are chosen to elicit favorable or unfavorable images or concepts.

Greenspeak is based on psychological principles, – guilt manipulation, loss aversion, and use of the indirect approach. If this sounds cynical, it is, but it also has been quite effective. In order to combat this sort of manipulation, one must be able to recognize when and why greenspeak is being used. So how can you identify greenspeak and greenspeakers?

Buzzwords

Some of the most frequently used buzzwords are: roadless, pristine, wild, ecosystem, wilderness, clean water, biodiversity and ancient forests (or old growth). Actually, they have become code words. “Old growth” means, “don’t cut that tree; it’s older than you are! It would be like killing your old white-haired grandma!” It is probably no accident that the word “cut” is used. It sounds painful.

Another example of using implied pain is the phrase, “It would be like mugging a burn victim.” This was originated during the opposition to the proposed salvage of the 1987 Silver Fire. It so successful, that when the Biscuit Fire started in 2002, there were so many snags and large down trees remaining in the Silver Fire area, it was extremely hazardous for firefighting crews. They had to fall back to safer firelines. Consequently the Biscuit fire soon grew to 500,000 acres.

Loss aversion

“Save” is another favorite word, used to imply that anything it is attached to will be “lost” if they are not able to keep your hands off it! This is based on the principle of “loss aversion,” which is the strong desire not to lose something one has, which is stronger even than the desire for new acquisitions. This tactic is used most frequently for wilderness, as a compare and contrast scenario: “Look at these pictures of an untrammeled, scenic view versus this nasty field of stumps in a clearcut!” What they don’t show you is a wilderness after a fire that spread because roadless access restrictions prevented timely fire control. And, like in “Animal Farm,” where some animals were “more equal than others,” most of these buzzwords appear “more equal” and have an aura of “goodness” that the greenspeakers cleverly use to capture the high ground in any verbal battle.

On the negative side, some of their favorite words are: extinction, pollute, and (their all-time favorite) clear-cut. “Clear-cut” seems to be an almost universal word for any cutting they don’t like, which is pretty much any cutting. Recently, there is a new forestry concept called “Forest Restoration,” which involves thinning the smaller trees and leaving the bigger trees, which would eventually become “old growth” and thence off limits.

But even this type of harvesting has recently been protested as “clearcutting!” Their eco-mercenary vocabulary is generally based on these words and concepts so, when you see them, you will know that there is a “green” message being sold.

Spurious analogies

Another favorite tactic is their use of the spurious analogy, or false comparison, that is intended to leave you with a shockingly horrible image, such as the “mugging a burn victim,” as mentioned above. They want to leave you with an image of a burned and bandaged person, not the actual situation. It’s just a clever way of changing the subject, sort of a bit of magician’s sleight of hand.

An older spurious analogy was the classic “Canary in the Coal Mine,” comparing a threatened species (the northern spotted owl) with the proverbial canary, as an “indicator species.” Since coal mines are not the naturally favored habitat of canaries, this comparison doesn’t really work and also appears really to be obsolete. But, lacking new buzzier words, it has come back, just as spurious as before. Most people’s reaction to the suggestion that the forests and timber industry would be shut down by this small owl would be, “You’ve got to be kidding!” But no, greenspeakers use the Endangered Species Act with a straight face. They take it even further by claiming that “virtual” (theoretical) owls need protection.

Indirect Approach

Their use of the Northern Spotted Owl was a classic example of how to use the “indirect approach.” This was originally described by the ancient Chinese general, Sun Tzu, in a book the “Art of War.” It means looking for the enemy‘s weak point and attacking there, not where they are strong. So, when they wanted to stop timber harvest, rather than simply saying “Don’t cut that tree, you nasty logger,” which likely would have elicited the response “why not?” instead they looked for a weak point. In the northwest forests, the handiest weak attack point turned out to be a bird, the Northern Spotted Owl, which was declared to be “threatened” under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. This gave owls “more equal” status, and meant that its survival was put first in BLM forest management planning, – even ranking ahead of the 1937 O&C Act, which mandated priority to forest timber production under sustained yield management.

As it turned out that the main threat to the little owl turned out to be its bigger cousin, the barred owl, and not the cutting of “old growth,” which had been pretty much stopped anyway by the NW Forest Plan in 1995. So it is not surprising that the owl has continued to decline, as competition with the barred owl is the real problem.

Who are the Greenspeakers?

How can you recognize their groups? As well as their selling buzzwords, they have favorite words they like to use for their organization names, such as: council, task force, alliance, project and center. The message that they are trying to convey is that there are large numbers of activists involved and, in the world of politics, numbers count.

Any serious campaign needs foot soldiers to carry out the program on the ground. I call them “eco-mercenaries,” – somewhat like the troops hired by the British during the American Revolution. In this modern case, it has been the big green 501(c)(3)s, the tax-free foundations that do much of the major funding of these local groups which are usually found in cities, generally with colleges or universities, to facilitate recruiting of young greens.

These young people are often impressionable and can easily be taken in by greenspeak if they are not widely informed. So, what better place to recruit than in a college town, where there is usually a shortage of practical experience, but idealism and theory are in ample supply. This might be called the “Pied Piper of Hamlin” system of recruiting. Many college students are living away from a familiar home environment for the first time, and trying to fit into new surroundings with their new friends and acquaintances. So it is not surprising that, when “Pied Pipers” come along, singing their song of saving the world, they can find recruits.

One might expect that these environmental organizations would try to recruit graduates with backgrounds and expertise in the environmental sciences. However, that’s not the case, according to the executive director of the most active litigating green group, the Center for Biological Diversity:

“I’m more interested in hiring philosophers, linguists and poets. The core talent of a successful activist is not science and law. It’s campaigning instinct. That’s not taught in the universities, it’s discouraged.”

Their lack of technical training frequently allows them to ignore facts they don’t understand.

This may explain an observation by Senator Wyden recently, that “environmentalists have an allergy to compromise!” (The old expression, “don’t confuse me with facts!” comes to mind.)

Their “campaigning instinct” also includes much more than the use of greenspeak words for persuasion; it includes litigation and legislation. The litigation is used to stop or stall government management programs, and the legislation is used for the more permanent “fix” – wilderness status. And greenspeak words and tactics are used to support and sell these more aggressive aspects of their agendas.

Watch what we do, not what we say

A rather good bit of advice came from a surprising source, an environmental attorney. It was: “Watch what we do, not what we say!” The “say” is the persuasion and selling part, which may sound good enough to fool some, but the “doing” he was referring to is the real “teeth,” – litigation, not persuasion. He said this, more in the nature of a threat, as he went out the door at a Congressional hearing, but it is good advice even if he didn’t really intend it to be. He should know, since he works at one of the litigation factories. They have developed litigation into a successful “cottage industry” that has brought them many millions of dollars, – $21 Million at last count in 2014 – from the Equal Access to Justice Act alone, which is considerable but not their main financial support.

Follow the money

So, how has the green movement gotten so large and financially powerful? The old saying, “follow the money,” is the key. This can be a bit like looking for icebergs; only a small part shows above the waterline. Mainly, these are the “little green” 501s, while the “big greens” are largely out of sight underwater. Although, the fact that they are out of sight hardly means they are unimportant. Reputedly, as much as a billion dollars annually flows down to the little greens. This buys quite a bit of the greenspeaking agenda!

One has to wonder what really motivates the big greens. Could some of them even have been sold by the little greenspeakers to get their financial support? In the Middle Ages, the church developed a system (although gimmick might be a more accurate word) called the “indulgence,” which allowed guilty rich “sinners” to buy their way into heaven! Since much of greenspeak is built on implied guilt, maybe it also works upward, like the old indulgences. Plus, these contributions are tax deductions for the big green foundations!

Whatever the motivation, they have undertaken major campaigns and, despite all their green talk, what is it they really want? By “watching what they do,” it is pretty clear that their eventual aim is to stop timber cutting and other utilization of Federal lands. The best way they have found to do this permanently is by wilderness designation. They usually claim this will “save” the area, but from what exactly is often not specifically stated, (although “clearcutting” or worse is usually implied.) The contradiction here is that “saving a wilderness” actually causes the loss of its resources and can make it more vulnerable to loss by fire. Despite these realities, “more wilderness!” has been the greenspeakers answer to pretty much everything. Loss aversion stood on its head!

Following the money locally is still useful, since many of the little green groups are run by eco-mercenaries, some of whom are very well paid. It can be revealing to see where their money is coming from, since it usually comes with the big green agenda. Their IRS filings, and even the organizations own web sites, can tell you quite a bit about identifying the opposition. Publicizing their stated agendas can make it clear that often they are not really working in the best interests of the local communities. Some green groups gather local business supporters who may not be aware of the negative impacts the local greens have on the local areas and their own businesses and customers. Ask them if they know what they are really supporting.

Another big dollar expense caused by the green appeals and lawsuits is the $1.1 billion that flowed from the U. S. Treasury and the U.S. taxpayers to the Oregon O&C counties under the “Secure Rural Schools Act of 2000.” This doesn’t benefit the greens directly, but it is largely to help minimize the damage to county government finances caused by their activities. However, it does little to reduce unemployment or to help the local economies, which have withered away due to the raw material shortages. These artificial shortages have even caused measurable changes in rural demographics – a tilt to the older age classes – as the younger working group had to move away to find employment. As regional economies have declined, there are further negative changes in affected areas, falling public safety budgets, increased crime and drug abuse and declining real estate values. In fact these are all the attributes of a recession – an artificial recession but all too real.

So what now? The nationwide situation has become so serious that the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee formed an Endangered Species Working Group that held hearings on the abuses. In 2014 they proposed four bills, HR.4315 thru HR.4318, which were approved by the House, but were among the many bills that were not acted on by the Senate last year. When reintroduced in this session, they should have a better reception in the Senate. We can let our legislators know that we support these changes so the ESA can get back to the stated job of actually working on species recovery.

In a more general context, we must demand that decisions – affecting vast areas, major natural resources, and extensive rural populations – be based on peer reviewed, real science. One step in the right direction is a 9th Circuit law case which stated that, when Federal agencies’ research decisions are based on “best available science” and not found to be “arbitrary or capricious,” they were presumed to be correct and not vulnerable to appeals or lawsuits.

Any new wilderness areas or monuments proposed must to have recreational values that are outstanding and clearly be of a higher priority than any other values that will be foregone. And new proposed areas should be rigorously examined as to whether their fire protection plans are realistic.

The broader lesson we need to learn from greenspeak is that fine sounding proposals, concepts and words can be adopted and used by groups with entirely different aims from the common usage of the words themselves. And, if they are clever and unscrupulous, their use of greenspeak can continue to mislead most of the public as to what their motives actually are.

Their use of greenspeak has allowed the greens to largely escape responsibility for these negative effects. By pointing out their methods and the long term consequences, it is hoped that this study will allow us, as they suggest, to “watch what they do,” and no longer be fooled by “what they say.”


Related Posts:
Bill in Oregon Legislature Transfers Federal Lands Back to the Locals
Free AmeriCorps Member Via League of Oregon Cities for ONLY $22,000
BOC---County Meeting to Hire AmreiCorp, Discuss SCCF Tuesday July 1, 2014
Letter to Editor---Shocked at Vote By Coos BOC in Support of AmeriCorps 
The 2014 Preserving the American Dream Conference September 19-21, 2014
BLM, USFWS, USFS, Using ESA to Intimidate, Bully & Threaten Citizens Rights 
Natural Resource Committee Demanding Senate Action on H.R.1526 Public Comment 
Why does the Government Own & Hoard Resources?
Senator Wyden’s O&C Plan will Bankrupt Counties Part #2
Senator Wyden's O&C Plan will Bankrupt Counties  Part #1
Senator Whitsett---Oregon: Transfer public lands from feds?
Natural Resources Committee--State Forests Management Superior to Federal Forests
O&C Land---Timber Bill and Log Prices
BLM---Lawsuit expands to lock-up 90 million bd-ft of timber    
WANTED: Examples of Economic Hardship Due to ESA Critical Habitat
GOA Alert: Senate to vote on the Federal Land Seizure Act on Thursday‏
RMP's for Western Oregon
Urgent, Urgent, Urgent, House May Cave On LWCF. Call Now.
Comments from the Cottage Grove 912 
A Meeting About Nothing....
B-Corporations: The Redefining of what it means to be a Corporation 
The Federalization of Local Urban Renewal Agencies
The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
The US Forest Service Is Involved With Another Land Grab in Coos County
Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism

City of Bandon Gives Away Public Money to Questionable Charities  

What is Craft3 & how does it relate to Agenda 21

INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL
Comments

    Categories

    All
    A.F.P.
    Agenda 21
    Bandon
    B.I.A.
    B.L.M.
    Coos Bay
    Coos County
    Coos County
    Coquille
    County Charter
    Curry County
    C.W.A.
    Democratic Party
    D.E.Q.
    Eco Devo
    Eco Devo
    Economic Development
    Educational
    Elections
    E.P.A.
    F.D.A.
    F.E.M.A.
    Individual Rights
    I Spy Radio
    Jury Nullification
    Legislation
    Letter To Editor
    Mary Geddry
    N.D.A.A.
    News Wave
    N.O.A.A.
    North Bend
    O&C Land
    O.D.F.W.
    O.D.O.T.
    O.F.F.
    O.H.A.
    O.P.R.D.
    O.R.C. Mining
    O.W.E.B.
    P.E.R.S.
    Petitions
    Port Of Coos Bay
    Public Comments
    Public Events
    Regulation
    Republican Party
    S.A.O.V.A.
    State Of Jefferson
    The Bandon Marsh
    The Economy
    The Rob Taylor Report
    The Supreme Court
    The Tea Party
    Urban Renewal
    U.S.A.C.E.
    U.S.D.A.
    U.S.F.S
    U.S.F.W.S.

    Sign-Up Now to Stay Informed

    * indicates required

    View previous campaigns.

    Send Letters to:
    ​cooscountywatchdog@gmail.com​

    Disclaimer: Letters to the Editor and other opinions published in The Coos County Watchdog blog are not necessarily the views of the Editor, Publisher, or possible anyone else in their right mind.  The Watchdog reserves the right to edit, omit, or copy any and all submissions. 
    Letters to the Editor must be attributed with a name, address, and contact phone number. 

    WARNING:
    Political correctness is not practiced on this
    page & some content is inappropriate

    RSS Feed


    Archives

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

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from DieselDemon