Greetings, Patriots.
As Americans (at least those of us who are paying attention) are fixated on 24-hour news coverage about the deteriorating situations in Iraq and Gaza, I believe that we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from what's happening back here at home. This is especially true as it pertains to a development that has surfaced recently concerning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), cattle ranchers and other land stewards throughout the nation, and the very resources that these ranchers and landowners depend upon to sustain their operations and provide for themselves and their families.
I'm talking about water and, legislation-wise, I'm talking about the Clean Water Act. This piece of legislation has, for decades, given authority to the federal governemnt (particularly the EPA) to enforce rules and regulations governing the many water sources on U.S. soil. Since it was originally passed in 1972, like many pieces of legislation, it has been abused and utilized as a means to trample the very private property rights that have served as the cornerstone of this nation's greatness for so long.
In the latest chapter of this particular sad saga, the EPA and ACOE are now seeking to expand the definition of "Waters of the United States." Specifically, the new rules being proposed by federal regulators would, with a few EXTREMELY VAGUE exceptions, require cattle ranchers and landowners to get permission from federal authorities before they could utilize any sources of water on or around their land. Essentially, these new regulations would confiscate authority directly from the hands of property owners and locally-elected and appointed regulators and put it in the hands of federal bureaucrats with no direct connection to the communities which this new regulation directly affects.
A couple of things. First, regulations like these stand to severely hurt the agricultural industry across the country. Farmers and cattle ranchers depend on natural resources in order to preserve their livelihoods and this usually depends on them getting the right resources (i.e. - water) to the right places at the right time. Burdensome regulations will only serve to disrupt that schedule and jeopardize the health of farms and ranches across America.
Secondly (and more importantly), as I've already alluded to, at most this should be a local and state issue...and not a federal one In other words, states and local government, elected by the people, should have jurisdiction over their locally owned and operated natural resources. There is absolutely NOTHING in the United States Constitution that gives a federal entity authortiy to take for itself the kind of power now vested in EPA and ACOE. There is absolutely NOTHING that gives the federal government permission to hold hostage the very essence of the well-being of thousands of people in the name of some vague environmental agenda that will only hurt the environment and the people living in it. As Americans, we should be outraged and we should be moved to action.
And here's how to do it. The link below will take you to a web page with instructions on how to leave a comment with the EPA and ACOE. Make your voice heard and do not let them get away with implementing this despicable rule without hearing from you first.
http://cqrcengage.com/beefusa/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=47396
Additionally, however, there are other ways to protest; one of which is to unite and join together to legally challenge this rule. If you are a landowner and are upset about this, then I urge you to find people of like mind and of similar livelihood who can come alongside you to help bring about an end to this tyrannical measure. Remember: strength in numbers.
Finally, you can practice civil disobedience. How specifically? I cannot say. I am neither a landowner nor a cattle rancher and, in all honesty, this does not directly affect me. I am passionate about it because I am passionate about private property rights and don't want my own rights to be threatened at some point some day. I also believe very strongly that the most potent weapon that each and every human being on this earth possesses is the one between their ears. My strong recommendation, then, is that you THINK about creative ways to get around this burdensome regulation and that you go as far as your conscience and circumstances will allow in protesting it via civil disobedience. Get creative and live free!
In closing, I should probably reiterate that, even as we are calling attention to the federal government's abysmal actions in this instance, we should not neglect to ignore what's happening overseas. Gaza, Iraq, ISIS...all of it is important. All I will say here, for purposes of brevity, is that we should pray and hope that none of these disintegrating situations taking place will eventually lead to a mobilization of America's fighting men and women. We simply cannot afford it, in blood or treasure, and it is not our place to intervene in the first place. Our country is still reeling from over a decade of perpetual warfare to the point of possibly destroying itself as we know it. Thus, we must remain vigilant and loud if we are to prevent further sacrifice of our own national life blood.
Until next week.
Praesant Libero!
-Warren Brisbane
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