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EPA

Sustainable Communities Initiative (the Federalization of local zoning codes): Lakes Region Planning Commission Meeting

Yes, the unelected, unaccountable and mostly self-funding (multiple taxpayer teats at the ready) group of Commissions that started off doing road planning between neighboring towns – and suddenly, are experts in such varied things as Economic Development to Broadband Deployment in just a few short millions of dollars grants-writing.  And now that THAT information is getting out (much to the dismay of paid shills like NHListens (here, here, here, here, sorta here, here) who “facilitate” meetings (and their outcomes) and their propagandists like Action Media (“to neutralize the opposition“)), they are not grooving at ALL that they are no longer being allowed to do their work out of the light of Citizen Flashlights…

…like here, where one of the taxpayer funded presenters, trying to sugercoat the “wassup!”, decided to diss ‘Grok friend Ed from GovernmentOversite (who wields a big Citizen Flashlight indeed).  Diss?  Er, well, object to the camera being present AND rolling – watch for yourself:

Lesson to the yet-to-be-PR-wise: holding up the yellow lined notepad makes you a bigger target and a more interesting subject to watch.  And, as my 1 year old granddaughter will soon learn, blocking the camera lens with said notepad will not automatically make you invisible (something that the 1 year old is already learning, except she just uses her forearm to cover her eyes to make herself invisible to everyone else).

But I digress – here are some of the notes Ed took (emphasis mine, a bit of reformatting, and commenting on the notes on what these Planners really want to do [er, the Ed’s Notes are great and are NOT the target of the snark – the reason why the Notes had to be done is):

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Runs like a Deere….no thanks to a sniveling Lowe’s

I still miss the ole’ Suburban.  What’s not to like about a land yacht that had a really nice comfy bench seat in the front where TMEW would sit right next to me, a long wheel base to smooth out the bumps, 4wd to take care of the ravine that one must pass to get to Murphy Manse (a H/T to DCE from Weekend Pundit calls his home), and was plenty big to haul all the stuff that our daycare center needed (at the time).  Plus it was always great to move snow with its plow as I stayed warm in the cab, listening to conservative talk radio and a Mtn Dew in the cup holder.

No matter who you looked at it, it was a vehicle that stuck a stick in Liberal and Enviro’s eyeballs.  Why do I say that?  Remember, they were complaining that NO ONE needed such a large SUV – they hated the idea of big “wasteful” cars that only single folks rode in – a CRIME against not only GAIA but also a crime against all those other folks “less fortunate” to only drive dinky cars.  Yes folks, the “gun on four wheels” of its day.  But, thanks to Socialist Enviro Lisa Jackson (about to be former EPA head) and Secretary of Transportation “Republican” Ray LaHood

Sidenote: you know, I did a post about NH GOP Greg Carson who all but has claimed that ANY person with an R next to their name was a GOOD Republican, as it helped the Party to gain Party; I need to return to the next installment of that thought process – after all, LaHood DOES have great power as Obama’s DOT Secretary – how’s THAT working out for us Liberty loving Republicans, eh Greg?  Especially as you are the point person for the Federal push, via the EPA, HUD (your department), and DOT to Federalize local New Hampshire communities’s zoning laws with the ill-named and worse intended result than the “Sustainable Communities Initiative”.

they’ve pretty much decided that Americans (if they can afford the newer regulation laden results) will only be able to drive tin cans that will be hard pressed to carry a grocery bag for cargo because of a doubling of the CAFE standards.  SURE, it’s gonna save us money in the long run – when have we heard THAT promise before (like with compact flourescent bulbs that have turned out to be a bust?).  But I digress.

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EPA and Hurricane Sandy – yeah, sure “they’re here to help” (Not!)

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.”

– President Barack Obama, Inauguration, 1/20/09

In this case, Ronaldus Magnus’s words, with Hurricane Sandy about to make landfall, come to mind: “Government is not the solution to our problem, it IS the problem”.  He was talking about the Jimmy Carter “malaise” that permeated the American psyche at the time – I’m only talking about gas.  No, not the drilling, the refining part – more of the “how do they expect me to transfer gas with this stupid EPA Mandated gas container spout???  This is ‘helping’??”  Now, what are most people thinking about doing with gas containers right now?  Well, yesterday I saw a lot of folks leaf blowing and cutting their lawns – with gas power blowers and tractors.  My intent, however was different – having bought some new containers a bit ago and filled them up, it was time to top off the new 4X4 and get the new generator ready and then fill them back up again.  That part was fine – just take off the spouts and fill them up.

Sidenote:  sigh….I just turned the age where the pharmacy no longer puts the “kid-safe” tops on my med bottles.  Nice to see that the EPA decided that we’re never too old, and never responsible enough,  to be able to take the cover off of a commonly used liquid container in an easy fashion – they don’t trust us!

Life used to be easier, years ago.  If you needed to keep some gas on hand for the lawnmower, the leaf blower, the tractor, ( generator!!) and other misc. small gas engine powered implements, you used one of these.  Simple design – when not in use, the spout is kept inside.  Go to use it, reverse it AND undo the “air hole” at the back so that the gas doesn’t do the  “chug-lug” that makes it hard to pour that stuff out be eliminating the partial vacuum that happens. Then the EPA decided that they just HAD to “improve” our lives  in the name of our safety and to “protect the environment”.  And this ended up being the result:

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Regional Planning Commission Meeting Tomorrow – Milford

Our apologies for the very short notice. Last week, on the heels of a GSF rejection victory in Rochester, Dover shot down their Scenic Byway program, and the standing-room-only crowd made a HUGE difference. The Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) is holding their Executive Committee and regular Commission meetings, this Wednesday night, September 19th, in … Read more

GrokTV: Rochester City Council – “Rochester City Councilors, just say “NO!” to the Granite State Future plan for Rochester!

Granite State Future plan – that plan by which Federalizes (via “free money”) local zoning ordinances.  And if you haven’t looked or known, they can have a LARGE effect on how you live and where / how businesses can be run.

Sidenote: From a post a while ago on when EVIL uses of ordinances by a Utopian wishing to get their way by using Govt to achieve their aim:

There is a long standing animus between a business entity called the Ames Farm and a lawyer by the name of Stephen Nix here in my hamlet.   For years now, the latter has tried to shut down parts of the operation of this 120 year cottage / restaurant / boat launch resort by using a number of legal maneuvers.  In essence, he is trying to take away one of our basic Rights, that of Private Property, from this family so as to enhance the value of his property.  Gordon Gecko has no skin on this play!

Nix’s warrant failed, but not through his lack of trying.  Federal Departments (EPA, DOT, and HUD) are trying to do the same thing by dangling easy money in front of cash hungry politicians – like gold seekers, some of the latter will do what is necessary to get that honey pot regardless of what the “strings attached” may do to the Property Rights of the taxpayers (yet another tale of Washington taking local money and saying “You can have your own money back, but only if you behave in the way we want you to (after all, we have our own version of what Utopia is – and YOUR Individual version no longer counts)).  Well, those that attended this past Tuesday’s Rochester City want this program to fail as well.  Lots of folks spoke up:

  

NH State Senator Fenton Groen                                         NH State Representative Lou Vida

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GrokTV: Rochester City Council – Pleading and venting

The last post – full out complaining that the Rochester (NH) City Council should not have subsidized the Obama Presidential campaign stop by expending taxpayer monies and not billing the Obama campaign (not that he’s bothering to pay – just that kind of guy, he is).  Here are more folks going after the City Council for the same thing, but at the same time asking them that the Councilors NOT sign onto the Federal mandates (EPA, DOT, HUD) of the Sustainable Communities Initiative known here in New Hampshire as the Granite State Future plan.

Jerry Delemus, head of the Rochester 9/12 Project (one of the most visible and well known of the Liberty& Freedom groups in the State):

More after the jump!

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GrokTV: “After Testimony” interview with – Sue DeLemus, Warren Groen

Both NH State Representatives Sue DeLemus and Warren Groen, testified before the City Council (against the Granite State Future Plan); both agreed to talk with GraniteGrok afterwards about whether or not they had words that didn’t get said, or items they wished to emphasize, like: “These people worship at the alter of Energy Conservation…they want … Read more

GrokTV: Rochester City Council Public input on “Sustainable Communities Initiative”- Ken Eyring

Ken’s mission at the Rochester City Council meeting( as it sought Public Input on its signing onto the NH version of the Federal Government’s Sustainable Communities Initiative (“SCI”), also known locally as The Granite State Future Plan) was to start connecting the dots between all of the groups that are pushing, advocating, and agitating for the passage of the Granite State Future Plan (to supplant local control of zoning ordinances with those mandated by the Federal Govt’s HUD, EPA, and DOT).

To wit: the Conservation Law Foundation  (a partner in the Granite State Future Program) also runs the New Great Bay Coalition that is advocating for a new regional water treatment plant (which is going to cost Rochester mega buckeroonies) under the Water Sustainability Commission, whose final report will be incorporated into the Granite State Future Plan (Otherwise known as: a circular taxpayer firing squad hosted by NGOs and bureaucrats!).

Ken related a comment made during one of the Water Sustainability Commissions:

“Water and sewer rates are too cheap in the State” and at that point, a few of the Commissioners alluded to the Great Bay sewerage treatment project and chuckled that…

“The residents in those towns in that project would soon learn that  water and sewer is not cheap.”

He also brought up the fact that the Planner for Rochester, Kenn Ortmann, has a conflict; he  is also the Vice Chair of the NH Housing Finance Agency and has a fiduciary responsibility that supersedes that of his responsibility to the City of Rochester. Any further testimony by Ortmann needs to be challenged.

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GrokTV: Rochester City Council Public input on “Sustainable Communities Initiative”- Tom Flaherty

Another of the folks that spoke out against the Federal Govt’s move to further do social engineering via the Sustainable Communities Initiative / Granite State Future Plan was Tom Flaherty.  He stressed that the key entity is HUD – it gets the final say via operating through the 9 Regional Planning Commissions under contract.  One statement from them:

“Given that our State’s population  can fit within the boundaries of many of the nation’s cities, we are presented with the unique opportunity to create a truly integrated approach to planning not just in one city or region but across the State as a whole.”

Who the hell do they think they are – to view citizens as mere lab rats?  So, it is the unelected and unaccountable Planners that get to determine how our State is going to look like?  How many citizens understand this?  And the chutzpah – it seems that Planners are thinking “look at what we can do!” without never thinking “er, maybe Citizens are happy in what they are doing now?”  I guess not – Utopians never do…

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Following the Trail from Sustainability…to Tyranny (Part 2)

Sustainability Ferris Wheel

This is part-2 of a series that breaks down the “sustainability” movement, and explains how some in NH are working to constrain individual liberties with it.  Read part-1 here.

The consummate community organizer, President Obama, knows the value of urban voters.  He knows that urban living, with its clustered, infrastructure-heavy, and herd-like nature, depends on government more than suburban life, and far more than self-sufficient, independent rural living.  He knows that more urban (or urban-like) voters mean utter dominance of the Progressive political class, at all levels.

He also knows that people have flocked away from cities, especially since the 1970’s, forming concentric suburban rings, referred to as “sprawl” (a word you will hear used quite a bit), which provide resistance to his urban, democratic-socialist ideals.

“The suburbs will define the outcome of the 2012 Presidential election”

Continuing to use the environmental movement as cover, and using the Presidency for credibility and funding, Barack Obama and his fellow community organizers are advancing the simmering ideology of “sustainability” by attacking the suburbs.

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When the Left starts “Memory Holing” pictures and stories, you’re on the Right track!

Mike Kruglik - Obama in the White HouseThe ‘Grok is doing its part on exposing what has been run on a semi-stealth process here in NH – the Federal Government’s implementation of President Obama’s promise made just before his inauguration: “We are five days from fundamentally transforming the United States”.

As Tom’s post / series thus far has been pointing out (Part 1, Part 2), there appears to be an effort by HUD / EPA / DOT to subvert local control and local zoning for environmental and “sustainable” reasons only.   But the real story is not just subverting local control with Federal control of the Environment.

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Former Obama Appointee that wanted to crucify energy companies, expectedly turns up at Sierra Club (who wishes to do the same)

A while ago, Al Armendariz (an Obama recruit / appointee), a high level EPA district administrator for the oil areas of the South and Southwest regions got caught in a 2010 video admitting that his style of environmental overwatch was akin to the Roman soldiers (video after the jump) (emphasis mine):

“But as I said, oil and gas is an enforcement priority, it’s one of seven, so we are going to spend a fair amount of time looking at oil and gas production. And I gave, I was in a meeting once and I gave an analogy to my staff about my philosophy of enforcement, and I think it was probably a little crude and maybe not appropriate for the meeting but I’ll go ahead and tell you what I said. It was kind of like how the Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years. And so you make examples out of people who are in this case not compliant with the law. Find people who are not compliant with the law, and you hit them as hard as you can and you make examples out of them, and there is a deterrent effect there. And, companies that are smart see that, they don’t want to play that game, and they decide at that point that it’s time to clean up. And, that won’t happen unless you have somebody out there making examples of people. So you go out, you look at an industry, you find people violating the law, you go aggressively after them. And we do have some pretty effective enforcement tools. Compliance can get very high, very, very quickly. That’s what these companies respond to is both their public image but also financial pressure. So you put some financial pressure on a company, you get other people in that industry to clean up very quickly. So, that’s our general philosophy.”

Of course, the whitewash machinery went to to work right away to disavow his actions and words and to make him out to be an outlier and not typical of the outlook of the EPA itself.

Yeah, like anybody believed that – and with this news as to where he landed after he resigned (just before he was to go before a Congressional hearing), does anyone believe that the Obama Administration WASN’T out to get the oil companies (disbelieve me?  See after the jump for a reminder)?  The Hill reports:

A former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official who resigned earlier this year for comparing his work to crucifixion has found new employment with a leading green group.

The Sierra Club on Friday announced that Al Armendariz would be joining the group’s “Beyond Coal” campaign next month as a senior representative:

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Internet Doodlings – At TreeHugger, environmentalists are like Obama: Constitution?

OK, commenter “mer” had me dead to rights:  Skip,  as a young boy, did you run around with sticks poking bears and hornet’s nests?  😉

My response was:  No, mer, I didn’t – but I have found out, as an adult, that it is good, clean (and cheap!) fun!

So, I went back and did it again at TreeHugger.  It seems that even at that bastion of Environmentalism (Leftist branch), there is talk about the Obamacare oral arguments:

If the Supreme Court Throws Out Health Care Law, Might Environmental Protections be Next?

The jist of the post is that they are following in line with Obama’s reasoning: The Supremes should not throw out a democratically passed piece of legislation. No positive mention of the Constitution as a limiting document – merely kvetching that other liberal programs, especially the EPA, would be at risk.  That would be, except for a couple of conservative outlier commenters like yours truly.  I responded to this comment which, in turn, was in response to an earlier one (emphasis mine):

” If you do not carry health insurance, you are not a threat to others. “

Have you ever heard of people passing germs and thus sickness? Yes, lack of healthcare is a threat to others.

I really shook my head at this – I’d hate to be this guy, walking around, thinking everyone around me could do me harm with a simple cough or sneeze!  THIS is the argument of choice as to why Obamacare is constitutional and should not be thrown out – “Daddy, she gave me germs!”:

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EPA decides to be both Legislative and Executive Branch – outlaws coal generated electricity

So, where is all that electricity going to come for Obama’s million electric cars?

Coal Fired Electrical PlantThe proposed rule — years in the making and approved by the White House after months of review — will require any new power plant to emit no more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt of electricity produced. The average U.S. natural gas plant, which emits 800 to 850 pounds of CO2 per megawatt, meets that standard; coal plants emit an average of 1,768 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt.

Legislation?  What the heck does our Monarch Obama wants to do with that?

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Do You Have The Stones To Outlast the Federal Government?

Most Americans would never last this long.  And that is exactly what the tyrannical bureaucracy depends on.  They need you to give up so they can abuse the people and their rights,  unchallenged.  But these folks went the distance and not only won, they embarrassed the EPA.  We need a few million more just like … Read more

Two Congressmen And A Free Throw

HR 1 The US House just finished it’s work on HR1, cleaning up after democrats who in 2010 abrogated yet another  obligation when they found themselves incapable of writing the budget they really wanted right before an election.

The liberal-progressives wanted more spending but that was not politically advantageous.  And since the single driving-force behind all Democrat decisions is politics the budget got relegated to the back of the bus, where the electorate’s short attention spans were meant to forget that democrats were never fiscally conscious representatives–they just tried to play them on the campaign trail. 

But avoiding the high profile budget battle was more evidence that they had something to hide. The Democrat House majority was appropriately sedated and placed under observation, while the Senate saw minor adjustments but no change in leadership.  So the process of changing our spending ways would still have to go through a Democrat controlled Senate and across the desk of a President who thinks the words "spending cuts" are just a rhetorical flourish used to provide cover for more spending.

Obama’s budget is proof enough of that.

But Obama only proposes a budget.  The House is in charge of spending.  So the new Republican congress went to the back seat of the Hopey-changey bus and picked up the budget obligations abandoned by the 111th congress.  This wwas a free shot at changing the fiscal direction of the country before writing their own first official budget, which was not due until later in 2011.  It was a gimme, a free throw, but one that had to survive the democrat Senate and the Spender in Chief.

So how did it turn out?

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Will the EPA Ban Lead Ammunition? [Updated]

Hot Air has the link from Mark Hemingway.  EPA has opened up a public comment period on the non-issue of lead ammunition and the environment.  Just another stupid idea courtesy of democrat leadership and all its ugly bureaucratic side effects. [Updated]   After two days of comment, the EPA decided that it did not in … Read more

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