Reading between the lines
Dear Editor:
This letter is in regards to the Kidder Township Environmental Advisory Council meeting that I attended as a member of the Carbon County Constitutionalists on August 11, 2010 regarding Marcellus shale drilling and the ensuing article on August 13th in the Times News. Although Mr. Newton's article did hit some of the issues discussed during this session I would like to offer an expanded version of this meeting from my point of view and clear up a few misconceptions. First, the assumption was made that we are a part of the national conservative movement. I feel that by labeling us conservative immediately throws us into the divide and conquer two party which is really one party system. We are more accurately part of the freedom movement trying to restore our constitution and make our representatives accountable to We the People rather than We the Multi-National Conglomerate Corporations. It is a sign of the times when there is a movement actually called the freedom movement here in the United States.
The eight hundred pound guerrilla in the room however came when I remarked to Mr. George that Article One Section Twenty Seven of the State Constitution should be a safeguard to one of our basic rights which is that of clean water. I mean it is an important commodity especially since roughly two thirds of our bodies are made up of water. He responded accurately by saying that the courts usually favor the mineral rights of the corporations over those of people and their right to fresh water. The courts in these types of decisions have basically said that the constitution which is the supreme law of the land and is the contract between the people and their government doesn't pertain when there is money to be made by the state.
Well, we are given specific instructions in Article One Section Two of the state constitution when this happens. "All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they think proper."
Let me break it down. We have a socialistic police state more concerned about generating revenue and expanding its power over the people than we do a government that protects the rights of the people through the courts. And as far as the mineral rights in Carbon County being sold off, I am eager to learn how these mineral rights for the whole county were obtained. I don't know who in their right mind would give up something as valuable as mineral rights unless there was some sort of government strong arming that would produce an illegal contract.
I will research this more and get back to you. But even a committee like the Kidder Township EAC is providing unconstitutional zoning advice to a group of township supervisors who take an oath to uphold and defend our constitution but who instead turn around and tell us what we can and can't do on our property. In the case of the public welfare it shouldn't be a zoning law that stops this encroachment by criminal corporations like Halliburton it should be the sheriff's office upholding the people's inherent rights. Sure a few land owners or farmers who are having a bad year might be able to make a quick buck off of the trespassing fees but it is nothing like the money they'd receive if they actually owned the mineral rights. And even if they did own the mineral rights they can't pollute and strain the entire community's water supply to collect on them. And if they did all of the land owners in the affected area could sue the land owner responsible. That is, if the courts were running the way they were supposed too.
The solution comes in the form of masses of people coming together and demanding our inalienable rights and representative government. I too have a dream. I would love to see the day when all of the indoctrinated municipal and state police officers join the sheriff's department to take a stand with the citizens who shouldn't need permission from the state to do such things as travel or marry only to have those licenses used against you when you don't play by the ever changing rules designed to steal from us and control our behavior. Cornelius Tacitus said "The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." Once we form a coalition behind the sheriffs department we can deal with those behind the system using it for their own power and control over us. And those who are making a quick buck off the poisoning of our environment.
Gene Duffy
Jim Thorpe
