Mileage May Vary

Border Security Versus The Environment?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:59:00 -0500

Drugs and criminals are a lot like water—they flow to the place of least resistance. Our nation’s borders are no different. We have locations along our southern border that are “highways” to the most dangerous sort. Drug smugglers, human trafficking, and even whole cartels are slicing into our nation in our proverbial “chinks” in the armor. Shocking, to me, is the biggest hurdle to combating these incursions—the environment.

What does the environment have to do with border security? I’ve recently discovered, a lot. Specifically our National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. Two specific examples are Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. While progress is being made to tighten border security in the wake of 9/11 and improved patrols from federal agencies are gaining ground in other areas, there are gaps.

Gaps made by federal laws restricting vehicular traffic from “environmentally protected” area are being exploited. Even by using federal agents on foot and on horseback isn’t making a dent. So much, in fact, that portions of these parks are closed due to the dangers posed by heavily armed cross-border bandits.

This is not lost on all lawmakers. Utah Republican Rep. Rob Bishop went digging and was rewarded with previously-marked “sensitive” documents. Thomas Burr of the Salt Lake Tribune pointed out in a December 6, 2009 article, “[a]s part of several requests the congressman has made to Interior and Homeland Security, he unearthed the threat assessment from 2002.”

This threat assessment showed the gaping holes in our security and despite some minor efforts in 2003 and 2006, the problem is getting worse. In a June 17, 2010 article on FoxNews.com:

“It’s intensifying,” Bishop said. The Utah Republican is the author of a bill, H.R. 5016 [introduced in April], that would allow border agents to patrol parkland without worrying about the environmental restrictions. He described that bill as the solution to the problem.

“They’re not allowing the Border Patrol to do the job that they know they need to do,” he said.

New attention has been drawn to the issue following reports about the Buenos Aires refuge. Signs have been posted warning Americans not to cross into the closed-off territory — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service originally sent around a notice in October 2006 that about 3,500 acres were being closed to public use out of concern for public safety.

“The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge has been adversely affected by border-related activities,” the notice said. “Assaults on law enforcement officers and violence against migrants have escalated. Violence on the refuge associated with smugglers and border bandits has been well-documented.”

What strikes me as humorous is that these lands were set aside for preservation and refuge, but are now being destroyed by incursions from foreign criminals. Federal forces who would be able to respond and interdict are restricted from doing so in the most efficient manner. With security beginning to clamp off other areas of intrusion, these “gaps” are becoming an arterial bleed of national security.

Regardless of your personal stance on immigration, this is a fundamental form of security expressly in the lap of the federal government (for the common defense). States that have tried to combat this by sending their own troops or security forces are headed off by federal supremacy laws or other federal interference. What will it take for people to realize this isn’t about environmental protection, undocumented workers, immigration rights or human rights—it’s about security, plain and simple.

Providing that security must come sooner rather than later. I, for one, support Congressman Bishop’s efforts and hope we can cut the restrictions so these gaps can be secured.

Links:

Salt Lake Tribune: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13936032

Fox News Story: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/17/lawmaker-warns-drug-cartel-danger-public-parks-intensifying/

Graphic: http://www.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=2766451

What Would You Do With REAL Freedom?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:46:25 -0500

We all talk about freedom. Freedom from tyranny, freedom from persecution or freedom from an oppressive government. By comparison, we live in a blessed and free world when viewed from the reference of Iran, North Korea, or even Saudi Arabia.

But what if we were confronted by freedom. Freedom like our Founding Fathers knew it. Free to keep your entire paycheck. Free to hunt, fish or boat without licenses, regulations or oversight. Free to marry without government permission. Free to live without the shackles of government.

But you would also be free from the many benefits brought by the government. Social security, medicare, medicade, public works and sanitation… Imagine keeping your entire paycheck, but paying for your own healthcare in full. Taking in your elderly family members who cannot work or afford to live on their own. Pay tolls for every road and highway (they have to pay for themselves now).

The only taxes would be sales tax and property tax, but those would be collected by the state. Customs and tariffs are the only taxes raised by the Federal Government. No standing armies (just the Navy and Marine Corps), no Homeland Security. The common defense would come from state-based militias armed with personal weapons. Personal property rights would be enforced by local elected officials. Crime would be dealt with truly by a jury of one’s peers. With no money for prisons, how much less crime would there be when crime could have the ultimate punishment?

Think how you would feed your family, clothe yourself or even pay for the everyday essentials. Imagine educating your own children or schools functioning only on what they could raise from local property taxes. Some schools would succeed more than others. Think on how we would need to participate in every aspect of our family’s lives.

Total freedom means a lot of responsibility!

Inch by inch, we Americans have shrugged off our responsibilities. Far easier to give up a foot of freedom than take on a foot of responsibility. Only, giving up that freedom was a one way ticket. If we want that freedom back we have to fight for it. We have to vote, shout, rail, even take up arms if all else fails.

Business would have no bailouts. Loans come from local bankers deciding if it is a money-making investment. No laws on discrimination or disclosure. A bank would decide if it is a smart loan without oversight or regulation. Smart banks thrive—foolish banks fail. Good businesses thrive—bad businesses fail. Some would make it big, some would fail. All would have a free-market equal chance.

If we would get sick, choices would be church or family. Doctors would be paid for services and do the best they could. Mistakes could happen. Good doctors succeed, poor doctors get run out of town. The sick or the indigent would rely on their family or the church. Could we help each other like that? Could we turn to God over Government? Can people accept the responsibility for themselves and their families to get back to these founding principles?

The biggest gift from God to our nation was freedom. Yet that freedom had two costs: responsibility and self governance. Imagine if we could be responsible once again? Imagine if we had the control to govern ourselves and accept the consequences when we couldn’t. The hard truth is that some will thrive while others will fail. This is the American Way, the trail of the American Dream.

From Michelle Malkin’s site… too good not to pass on

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:41:10 -0500

From Michelle Malkin’s site… too good not to pass on

Excellent video harkening back to Thomas Paine. While I...

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:55:58 -0500

Excellent video harkening back to Thomas Paine. While I don’t agree with everything, the video is well done and really hammers home some strong points.

RT from 6/9: Will DPRK have more fireworks for 4 July just as they did for Mem Day and 7/4/06?...

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:00:09 -0500

RT from 6/9: Will DPRK have more fireworks for 4 July just as they did for Mem Day and 7/4/06? http://is.gd/16Fr7

Cell phones and landlines have been messed up all afternoon. While the peace & quiet has let us...

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:52:15 -0500

Cell phones and landlines have been messed up all afternoon. While the peace & quiet has let us get a lot done, tomorrow is a catch up day.

Best RT @davidrisley Iphone cannot be updated at this time because activation server is temporarily...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:50:28 -0500

Best RT @davidrisley Iphone cannot be updated at this time because activation server is temporarily unavailable.” Damn fruit. ;-)

iPhone 3.0 rush has crashed iTunes servers… Way to go Apple. iphone3.0 fail At least mine...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:42:35 -0500

iPhone 3.0 rush has crashed iTunes servers… Way to go Apple. iphone3.0 fail At least mine didn’t get bricked like some others.

Further proof that PR firms are stuck in 1.0 and need to embrace 2.0 http://ping.fm/lJzLV

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:02:54 -0500

Further proof that PR firms are stuck in 1.0 and need to embrace 2.0 http://ping.fm/lJzLV

#dennismillershowFAIL Want to get word out on Freshman 50 & share show clip—paid membership...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:34:14 -0500

#dennismillershowFAIL Want to get word out on Freshman 50 & share show clip—paid membership req’d. http://ping.fm/fKIpT

Dennis Miller had on Brian Miller, a vet running for congress in AZ. Announced the Freshman 50, a...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:51:09 -0500

Dennis Miller had on Brian Miller, a vet running for congress in AZ. Announced the Freshman 50, a effort to bring 50 fiscal conservatives to the House in 2010. Very important effort. Find out more at http://ping.fm/CUcF0

Kids are still asleep, now just to get a little more work done before they wake up…

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:07:16 -0500

Kids are still asleep, now just to get a little more work done before they wake up…

Discovering more people who love good cigars and fine scotch… Need to start planning my own...

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:37:51 -0500

Discovering more people who love good cigars and fine scotch… Need to start planning my own “Big Smoke” DM me if you’re interested!

UN formalizes sanctions against DPRK. NKorea threatens 3rd nuke test. Long range missile near ready...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:36:08 -0500

UN formalizes sanctions against DPRK. NKorea threatens 3rd nuke test. Long range missile near ready for launch. http://bit.ly/mPsxq

I’ve been echoing Gary’s comments on...

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:30:11 -0500

I’ve been echoing Gary’s comments on Facebook’s Vanity URLs since it was announced… That commercial was justification that the “Facebook Rush” will be a fundamental branding shift.

gary:

Why Facebook fan page Vanity URL’s will change the game Just watch the video.

DPRK Looking to Shoot Off a Longer Range Missile?

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:20:00 -0500

DPRK clearing shipping lanes: http://bit.ly/HSah8

It should come as no surprise that after the complete lack of response from the rest of the world, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) have prepped a more advanced launch facility, rolling out a longer-range rocket and have begin clearing “shipping traffic” from the most likely launch lane.

With China stalling formal responses in the UN, Republic of Korea (ROK or Southe Korea) and US forces upping their readiness (http://bit.ly/yfgFN), and both naval forces cramming along the Northern Limit Line (think Star Trek’s Neutral Zone at sea) we may be seeing people putting out matches in a powder keg.

Following the pattern… we could see this improved rocket launch as soon as a couple weeks. Will DPRK have more fireworks for the 4th of July just as they did for Memorial Day and July 4, 2006?

Chocolate covered bacon… Chocolate-yum. Bacon–yum. Together-not so much. http://bit.ly/guJlS

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:47:28 -0500

Chocolate covered bacon… Chocolate-yum. Bacon–yum. Together-not so much. http://bit.ly/guJlS

RT: @SocialMedia411 “Twitter is the biggest thing in politics since the invention of babies to...

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:23:54 -0500

RT: @SocialMedia411 “Twitter is the biggest thing in politics since the invention of babies to be kissed” (AP): http://bit.ly/ixmwL

The dialog between Muslims and the US has been reset or did Obama just open the door for extremists...

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:48:47 -0500

The dialog between Muslims and the US has been reset or did Obama just open the door for extremists to come closer? http://bit.ly/lj1b3

DPRK preps another, bigger missile. Are they fishing for more incentives to stop or is the situation...

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:26:49 -0500

DPRK preps another, bigger missile. Are they fishing for more incentives to stop or is the situation getting worse? http://bit.ly/cC1xR