The EPA
should exist. And it’s power shoiuld be forever limited to REPORTING. No levying fines, no shutting anyone down, no prosecution, just pointing a finger and saying “Look at that smokestack!!! here’s a printout showing how much crap it’s pumping into the atmosphere” And that should be it.
Individual municpalities can decide if they want that facility to remain, or to tax it out of existence and force it to move.
Discuss.
19 comments Og | Uncategorized
If you are going to limit them, why allow them to exist as a federal agency (expense)?
I’m a “states rights” kind of guy and if it isn’t explicitly listed in the constitution…
What you describe already is found in the allegedly non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like GreenPOS. That’s the persuasion end.
EPA is government, government is force, the — you should forgive me the understatement — coercion.
So make them a privately funded organization. Problem is, if someone like Soros funds them, they could become as dangerous as they are now. Make them stick to a budget no larger than, say, the public library system’s manpower budget. Tie the two things together.
Why not require as a condition of business an “outflow” report funded by the facility? Make the data public, available to all to review, study, and publish findings from as appropriate.
Oh, and to head off the “They’ll fake the results” argument, the test equipment and sampling methodology should be eligible for audit once in a time period (negotiable, I’m thinking quarterly) by an interested party. No one party can audit more than twice in four audit periods.
About those municipalities, Og…
They’re FAR more Marxist (for the most part) than the Feds.
“So make them a privately funded organization…. Make them stick to a budget no larger than, say, the public library system’s manpower budget.”
While certainly appealing, I’d have to argue that this would be a cure worse than the disease. This would be equivalent to enforcing a limited budget on the SAF.
As much as I’d like to tilt things in favor of our side, we have to remember that the other side has the same tools at its disposal.
Og,
That is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard you say*.
As Pascal pointed out, there are already plenty of private orgs that do the looky-pointy thing well enough.
The right way:
1. Identify that you have a Constitutionally authorized need that is currently not being done.
2. Create an organization that is large enough and funded to accomplish those limited purposes.
3. Jealously guard your legislative power by stepping on the crank of anyone in that organisation who attempts to exceed his authority.
The real need for the EPA is only to assist the states with cooperative agreements since air and water polution cross state lines. As such, they should make recommendations about standards that state government are then free to reject or adopt.
The danger of any government organisation is the authority it takes for itself comes from somewhere. Normally, it takes that authority by force from the People.
* You never say anything stuipid, so this qualifies as the most stupid so far, even though it is relatively reasonable.
Oh, and another thing. Outlaw the executive order that Clinton signed in the 90s that puts all these environmental NGOs outside the law. You can’t sue them for misrepresentations such as sneaking an endangered species on your land and then having EPA shut down your business. And then cronies come along and buy your land for pennies on the dollar? And then, surprise, the NGO finds itself suddenly gifted with new funds to enable it to continue its “noble public service.”
Bill Clinton enabling racketeering? Shocking. Can’t be. He’s not from Chicago.
*EPA or Interior or the Forest Service or, well these sorts of things predate EPA (that gift of Nixon’s that keeps on giving.)
Good, good good. It’s as I thought, you’re all reading but not thinking.
Now reread the post and think about it.
And think about how we got here in the first place.
And learn how to use the tools of the enemy to defeat them.
And learn how to use the tools of the enemy to defeat them.
Axe handles?
hale: As seems to be common, you read the words but they don’t seem to be able to make it into the grey matter.
One group of people in America has been extraordinarily successful at pushing their right-wing agenda in 49 of the 50 states, which one would that be? and how? How did we get here? Ask yourself these questions.
EPA should not be able to enforce. Course back when the envrionment was an issue and they did not have any teeth, they were ignored.
Personally I would sink all of green peaces boats, but who am I? NGO are defintely not the answer.
I also do not believe anyone should be above the law, or immune from prosecution.
I would love to see a class in common snese, although that cannot be taught.
Face it guys, we are headed some where warm and I have a couple of baskets. Hand as I recall.
Truer words are seldom spoken, Paul.
Works.
One group of people in America has been extraordinarily successful at pushing their right-wing agenda in 49 of the 50 states….
And Illinois is the exception! Of course.
So, we use incramentalism against those who developed it into almost an art form. Could work, I guess, if we had the time to do so.
Looking at what is going on over in the middle east right now (Iran and Israel in particular), looking at what has been going on over here in the last two years or so, and especially in the past 5 or 6 months, makes me honestly wonder if this will all be a moot point with in the next 6 months to a year. I can honestly say, for the first time in my life (at least since the Cuban Missile Crisis … and yes, I am old enough to remember that … just barely) that I am scared.
Somewhere the four horsemen are preparing to mount their steeds … just never thought it would happen in my life time.
Guy, yesterday I saw the future. Well, in part. This was only a preview of helter-skelter.
We have had windstorms before here in L.A. And they have been much worse than yesterday’s.
However, the number of traffic lights that were out was unprecedented.
And after dark, the subsequent traffic melee that ensued was not helped by newly advanced (under AAP) traffic controllers who hired AAP underlings who did not know what to do and when with their white gloved hands.
It took two hours to traverse what should have taken 15 minutes on a trip sequence that passed through 4 communities.
Coming soon to local
theatersand smaller metropolitan areas near you.