The Ranchers are protesting, the State (Department of Fish and Game) didn't even show up to their own meeting, and most of you, my dear readers are wondering, "What is this all about?"  That is a good question.  In a nutshell: Water.  Water is life.  Without it we all die.  Ranchers in Scott Valley have WATER RIGHTS, which are property rights. We all have property rights.

The state of California (through the Department of Fish and Game) is trying to extort from the ranchers their water (life) rights by the threat of accusing them with a crime if they do not give up their water rights and pay the state $2500 (or more) each. They are doing this through a mechanism known as the incidental take permit (a.k.a. an ITP). Their theory is that if you divert water (which you have a legal right to do) you may harm or harass a fish, which they say is illegal unless you have a permit. Therefore they say you must first obtain a permit, in case you actually harm a fish then you will be covered. In the language of the permit application the land owner gives up his right to the water and gives to Fish and Game the right to shut off the water if they think it is in the best interest of the fish.

To help everyone understand, let us imagine that you have a right to travel on public roads.

 

The State insists that you must pay a tax and get a permit to exercise your right. You want to be peaceable, so you go ahead and register your car and get a driver's license, paying the fee of course. Now the State decides that there is an endangered sub-species of deer in your area, and that you might accidentally harm or harass one while traveling on the road. If you do that it would be a crime, so of course you need a permit to kill a deer (cost $2500).

 

The State says that if you fail to get a permit to kill a deer, you will not be able to register your car or keep your driver's license, and furthermore, if you are caught driving without a deer killing permit you will be presumed to have illegally killed one and prosecuted

accordingly. And when you read the fine print on the application for a deer killing permit it says that you waive your right to travel and will allow the DMV to stop you any time they think it might be in the best interest of the deer, regardless of whether you need to get to work or not.

Does that make it clear? In case you think this is only for the ranchers, the next step will be that you have to get a state permit to water your garden from your own well. I think we need to stop this madness now!

I hope you took a few moments on Memorial Day to reflect and remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Remember - freedom isn't free. There is a price to pay. Simply because Americans died in the Revolution, the War Between the States, the Great War, and World War II, and all the others, doesn't mean it is all settled. The enemies of freedom are still at work. If we don't stop them now, we doom our children and grandchildren to a life of slavery.

As for those of the locals who would comply, "cooperate", or even help the State in its quest for absolute despotism - "If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

God bless America !

Sincerely,
"Leonidas"