On one hand there is merit to the use of government to preserve undeveloped land for public use, clean up damaged areas, and regulate the dispersal of waste products. This is a long way, however, from ceding total control of the environment to a ruling class. American settlers fled Europe in part to be free from the restrictive obligations nobility exercised upon all resources of the realm. Yet now, with ever increasing speed the descendents of pioneers are rushing to reestablish themselves as tenants on the Kings land.
Democratic Senate could make life easier for DNR: When the Legislature reconvenes in January, the Senate Natural Resources Committee will be controlled by Democrats. That means the committee can do away with any initiatives from its counterpart committee in the GOP-controlled Assembly. … On the DNR's plate this session is a $215,000 proposal to station wardens at boat landings to encourage people to clean their boats to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels and a plan to offer farmers a financial incentive to grow sawgrass that can be used as a biofuel.
Personally, the idea of authorities hovering around to “encourage” politically correct behavior is not comforting. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin believes in land use planning with all their hearts and their environmentalist membership believes the needs of nature are at least equal to the needs of people. The DNR already has the right of unrestrained trespass on private land and they will be pressing for increasing control of the composition and use of private holdings. So while it is melodramatic, it is still correct to say a major civil rights issue of our time is the right of individuals to resist being pushed back in the direction of serfdom.
