Sample Letter About Local Governance-(A Harsha Sankar Article)
Dear Citizen, April 2005
At the Alleghany County Board Of Supervisors on April 19th, 2005, there were several noteworthy items discussed.
One had to with property taxes, a home permit, and a zoning permit. How is it possible in a free nation that a property owner has to continue to pay for what is supposedly owned and has to seek permission from others, through force of government, to build on what is supposedly owned? As long as there is no blatant infringement committed against another individuals' person or property, people should be free to do as they wish with their own property. Obviously this is not the case. It is apparent that the Marxist plank of the abolition of property rights still exists in America. Limited government will never protect people from inconveniences and aggravation.
The second issue revolved around the unjust $1000.00 "water meter fee". As was effectively expressed in the meeting, certain Alleghany County citizens should not be charged this heavy-handed tax simply their water provider is under new ownership.While government has no business being in business, the purchase of the water company by the county could not be avoided. The onerous unfunded federal mandates compelled local government ownership. If all the unnecessary regulations and non-positive laws were repealed, there probably would be two or three small businesses selling water to this particular subdivision.
I found it amazing that a bureaucrat and at least one elected official wondered how this acquisition was going to be paid. At $25.00 a month per customer and even with a significant overhead of 25%, the county will receive 100% ROI in less than four years. Very few private companies will do better.
The third issue was the debate about federal Homeland Security funds and the
state Rural Virginia Housing Rehab Initiative grant. The principle everyone must hold dear is the less money a locality receives from the state and federal treasury, the less it will be held captive to its legislation,edicts, and decrees. With the onslaught of unconstitutional undemocratic, and immoral judicial lawmaking, it is important that all local governments maintain its independence so it can better protect the rights of its constituents. While there will always be exceptions, devolution( governance closest to the people) generally works.
The last item I felt newsworthy was the argument for transparency and openness.Is this not what Mikhail Gorbachev, hardly a proponent of freedom and still an avowed communist, preached in the Soviet Union in the mid to late 1980's? While the County Attorney, as is his job to do, cited state law justifying closed hearings, the elected officials and other government staff were reminded that all work and decisions should be conducted in public because they work and answer to the people. It was implicitly stated by several concerned citizens that the reverse was not true. If people cannot even force their local governments to provide total disclosure, how can then they expect state and federal governments( especially the courts) to forsake the secrecy they have arrogated to themselves in the last few decades? Plaudits belong to those who refuse to back down on this fundamental issue. People have the right to know.
In conclusion, local governments are most likely to mirror the people. This can be a good thing. This can also be a bad thing, espectially with bar associations' infection of the body politic, the toxic influence of money and self-interest, and also group narcissism. However, these negative qualities are more likely to be overcome at the local level of government since the average individual feels more empowered. Bad decisions can be self-corrected more quickly if localities are provided the responsibilities to implement a major part of their governance. On the other extreme, look at the decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court. No matter how bad, they still remain the law of the land because of credentialism and lack of constitutional accountability.
Very Truly Yours,
Harsha Sankar
908 Valley Ridge Road
Covington, Virginia 24426
At the Alleghany County Board Of Supervisors on April 19th, 2005, there were several noteworthy items discussed.
One had to with property taxes, a home permit, and a zoning permit. How is it possible in a free nation that a property owner has to continue to pay for what is supposedly owned and has to seek permission from others, through force of government, to build on what is supposedly owned? As long as there is no blatant infringement committed against another individuals' person or property, people should be free to do as they wish with their own property. Obviously this is not the case. It is apparent that the Marxist plank of the abolition of property rights still exists in America. Limited government will never protect people from inconveniences and aggravation.
The second issue revolved around the unjust $1000.00 "water meter fee". As was effectively expressed in the meeting, certain Alleghany County citizens should not be charged this heavy-handed tax simply their water provider is under new ownership.While government has no business being in business, the purchase of the water company by the county could not be avoided. The onerous unfunded federal mandates compelled local government ownership. If all the unnecessary regulations and non-positive laws were repealed, there probably would be two or three small businesses selling water to this particular subdivision.
I found it amazing that a bureaucrat and at least one elected official wondered how this acquisition was going to be paid. At $25.00 a month per customer and even with a significant overhead of 25%, the county will receive 100% ROI in less than four years. Very few private companies will do better.
The third issue was the debate about federal Homeland Security funds and the
state Rural Virginia Housing Rehab Initiative grant. The principle everyone must hold dear is the less money a locality receives from the state and federal treasury, the less it will be held captive to its legislation,edicts, and decrees. With the onslaught of unconstitutional undemocratic, and immoral judicial lawmaking, it is important that all local governments maintain its independence so it can better protect the rights of its constituents. While there will always be exceptions, devolution( governance closest to the people) generally works.
The last item I felt newsworthy was the argument for transparency and openness.Is this not what Mikhail Gorbachev, hardly a proponent of freedom and still an avowed communist, preached in the Soviet Union in the mid to late 1980's? While the County Attorney, as is his job to do, cited state law justifying closed hearings, the elected officials and other government staff were reminded that all work and decisions should be conducted in public because they work and answer to the people. It was implicitly stated by several concerned citizens that the reverse was not true. If people cannot even force their local governments to provide total disclosure, how can then they expect state and federal governments( especially the courts) to forsake the secrecy they have arrogated to themselves in the last few decades? Plaudits belong to those who refuse to back down on this fundamental issue. People have the right to know.
In conclusion, local governments are most likely to mirror the people. This can be a good thing. This can also be a bad thing, espectially with bar associations' infection of the body politic, the toxic influence of money and self-interest, and also group narcissism. However, these negative qualities are more likely to be overcome at the local level of government since the average individual feels more empowered. Bad decisions can be self-corrected more quickly if localities are provided the responsibilities to implement a major part of their governance. On the other extreme, look at the decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court. No matter how bad, they still remain the law of the land because of credentialism and lack of constitutional accountability.
Very Truly Yours,
Harsha Sankar
908 Valley Ridge Road
Covington, Virginia 24426
posted by Harsha Sankar at 6:45 AM
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