So, why does “Executive Order 13575—Establishment of the White House Rural Council” scare the heck out of me when my friends, neighbors and even the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners (as of the executive meeting on July 11) had never heard of its enactment on June 9, 2011? I think I understand why this order has gone under the radar by the majority of our mountain communities, and Americans in general. But, the bigger question is, what does it really mean and what, if anything, can we do about it?
Do you recall what was going on “media wise” during the month of June? Most Americans were all glued to their televisions watching the gory details of the then news grabbing “Weinergate” scandal. There was a news item on FNC about the new White House Rural Council, although FNC, which might be the more objective network, did not give it more than a day of airtime! Unfortunately, most of us depend on the analysis of television news commentary, but soon forget after one news cycle, unless the news is sensational. Since NO ONE in the media has been talking about this, it makes me wonder: Do they think that 84% of the population has no interest in the 16% of us living in rural America? Perhaps, they believe Americans are getting weary of hearing about yet another executive order? Maybe, they think we are just too busy enjoying summer activities to be concerned about the consequences of the establishment of this new “White House Rural Council”. Then again, it might just be that there are some folks in the media who actually like the sound of this executive order. After all, what is not to like about the president’s decision “to increase the impact of Federal dollars and create economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural America”. Ironically, Becky Anderson, Mitchell County Economic Development Officer, had addressed the Commissioners at the same meeting I attended to summarize all that is being done for economic growth in Mitchell County. There is no doubt that our citizens want to improve our economic health, as it is tied into our general welfare and prosperity. At first glance, this looks like a win-win for Mitchell County and surrounding WNC!
But wait! There are reasons for us all to be skeptical about this executive order. At first glance, the use of the words “sustainable” and “potential”, as well as the phrases “essential to winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness” and “rural communities supply our food, fiber and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation” are hardly arguable. And, who does not want to “expand outdoor recreational activities on public land”? So, why am I skeptical?
Here’s why: think back on what has happened to the mining industry that once flourished in these parts, and our neighboring states. What is happening to the coal mining industry, today? Why has mining of rare earth minerals throughout the Unites States, literally, shut down? Why are our oil reserves going untapped and underdeveloped? The facts are that all the mines and oil fields did not close because there was no more value to them, but because of the interference of government regulations, i.e., OSHA, EPA, and a powerful environmental lobby that sways the decision making in Washington, DC. These restraints have killed opportunities for American companies to operate, and impede future endeavors in the process. Ten years ago the Unites States led the world in rare-earth mineral mining capacity. Did you know rare-earth minerals are important for ALL technology today…from smart phones to solar powered windmills? The fact is that 95% of rare-earth metals needed for today’s technologies are extracted in China. American companies have literally been put out of business, not solely by cheap labor in China, but also by government interference. Look at what government did to the oil industry after the disaster in the Gulf! It found new reason for more government regulations, regardless of the facts, or the welfare of Americans making their livelihood within the oil industry, and banned US drilling in the Gulf. So, you must ask yourself, why does this administration want to control the rural areas of America? The executive order tells us straight out: “rural communities supply our food, fiber and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation”.
Rural America does provide the food, fiber and energy, as well as all the natural resources we need to be self sufficient for the foreseeable future. Then, ponder this: What do the Departments of Justice, or Treasury, or Homeland Security, or Health and Human Services, or Veterans Affairs, or Defense, to name just a few of the 25 federal agencies that make up this council, need to be involved in decision making for folks in rural America? What are the consequences of 25 federal agencies, not three or four agencies, but TWENTY FIVE agencies, making decisions about our rural lands, both public and private? Could this administration be interested in nationalizing our corn fields, or claiming all mining rights, or tolling the waterways which define the corridors for trade from South America to Canada? Such speculation should be the topic of much debate in Congress among our representatives, yet there is frenzied silence on this issuance! What does seem probable is that President Obama has opened the doors for the full force of government sanctions to seize property for the good of the other 84% of the population, or even a more global population, should it be deemed necessary in order to “win the future”. In fact, this could be an opportunity for national government to expand its powers beyond “Eminent Domain”. At least with Eminent Domain, land owners supposedly receive an equitable financial settlement when property is seized. With executive order 13575, government agencies could be entitled to seize property, with the blessings of the White House, but without any equitable financial settlements.
So, yes, I am “scared” by the establishment of the new White House Rural Council! This may well be the groundwork for all of us to be living on “national property” with no individual rights of ownership, should our property be deemed “treasure” for “winning the future”. (Ask the shareholders how they like the consequences of GM selling their industrial soul!) The communist way is to redistribute the “resources” of some for the good of many. With the full force of the Obama executive branch, meaning “25 department heads of the executive branch are better than one”, this president not only sees the potential value in rural America, but, I fear, a way to grab it!
Lest we forget, the Obama Administration gave OUR AMERICAN oil rights to Venezuela, and then lent them 9 billion of our American dollars to get them started! How many times have we sent financial aid to the rest of the world, yet how many times has this president apologized to the world for our “arrogance”, blaming America for being too rich and imperialistic? How many times has his justice department defended his cronies for breaking the rule of law? How many of his czars are retreads from the days of the Weather Underground and Students for a Democratic Society who got their training manuals from Cloward and Piven, Saul Alinsky, Lenin and Mao to name a few other Marxist revolutionaries. With his warped sense of a new America, how can we trust that this president will not give our farming rights to Mexico or our mining rights to China, while Congress chases their individual tails in fits and starts, and the “fair and balanced”, and not so “fair and balanced”, media lull the people into a state of oblivion with entertainment of our culture gone amuk! I respectfully say, wake up folks….don’t be duped by an inability, or refusal, to connect the dots. There is much to be done to keep the liberties and freedoms we have grown up believing are our unalienable rights!
Text of the White House Rural Council created by Exec. Order #13575
Copy right by
Bonnie Clarke Sagan
Bakersville, NC
