Don Casey defends genuine local economy in a Chattanooga lecture.
The following is an abstract of a talk by a noted free market advocate March 16 in Chattanooga. Don Casey lectures worldwide about global agendas foisted on American states and cities under the theory of “sustainable development.” He touches our interests on several important points. Mr. Casey describes how love of local economy is being used to subjugate Chattanoogans and others to systems of “soft law” and “hard law” that purport to establish “environmental justice.” Notice how advocates of this religious perspective offer a false view of local economy, an ersatz copy of it, a plastic model of it peddled as the real, pulsing thing. Might we have local economy without the free market? What follows are my notes from Mr. Casey’s lecture.
Sustainable development was signed into law as U.S. public policy by President Richard Nixon, a Republican, in the same year as Earth Day celebrations began. Local comprehensive plans nationwide began to adopt sustainable development as the operating theory.
Signs in Chattanooga suggest gains for the program. Bicycle placement systems hint a future of greenthink in which you are limited to walking, bicycling and public transportation, with use of the auto and truck restricted.
Alabama is the first state to publicly acknowledge the “insidious nature” of sustainable development as a mantra, and state law holds that neither the state nor its subdivisions may adopt or implement rules that “deliberately or inadvertently infringe or restrict private property rights without due process, as may be required by policy recommendations originating in, or traceable to ‘Agenda 21,’ adopted by the United Nations in 1992 *** .” according to a slide.
Sustainable is a religion ”at least for some people, this is really a cultural transformation for them where they have adopted something called sustainable development” as a religious ideal. They want to transform society. When national leaders talk of “transition, this is exactly what they are talking about.” The transition is away from familiar representative government to “self-regulating governance system.”
A graph from Agenda 21 explains a powerful role for government, corporations and NGOs; 1,500 nongovernmental organizations went to Rio two weeks before the global environmental summit and pledged their adherence to ideals of sustainable development. Kiwanis, Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce. There exist councils of business development intending to carry out the green agenda.
An open push to set agenda
Big business as big sway in pushing others in the proper direction. Companies such Cargill and Monsanto require business partners to adopt the theory pushed through various business councils. Progressive socialist agenda will end in a situation such as that prior to World War II in Germany, with the people cowering and central government directing all activity.
“Noting here is conspiratorial. Believe me, a conspiracy is two or more individuals who in secret plot to commit an evil act. This is out in the open. I wouldn’t know any of this unless it were readily available.” A “horn of plenty” available to discover how big business, big nonprofits and governments are acting in concert. He cites 156-page 2002 report discussing community block development grant. Federal grants have strings attached. A facelift in a Tennessee town has no evident strings, but prettified towns are part of the agenda, so how can a conservative town councilman accept such grants, especially when the U.S. government is insolvent?
Mr. Casey juxtaposes two elements out of the 2002 confab, full of theatricals and a stage full of people. A heavily accented voice tells about mother earth, a deity, and decries man’s violence against her. “We are failing to laugh and care for Mother Earth.” There follows a clip from Colin Powell, President Bush secretary of state, saying the American people and the U.S. government have a commitment to sustainable development.
Mr. Casey discusses “soft law” under ICLEI, which is effectively the bed upon which social action and public processes are marching in Chattanooga, a member of the international body.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, during her tenure of secretary of state, says the following in a video clip:
We have coalesced around an outcome document that marks a real advance for sustainable development. How we grow over the long term isn’t a question only for some countries. it is a question for all countries. A more prosperous future is within our reach, a future where all people benefit from sustainable development, no matter who they are or where they live. *** And that is why, in the 21st century, the only viable development is sustainable development. We also have to be thinking development about development in our cities. *** We are bringing political officials from every level, from state, county, local, municipalities together, along with industry leaders and developers to find creative ways to generate sustainable economic growth.
She says she wants to use consumer groups, companies to have marketing, packaging “that puts the least amount of burden on the earth we share.” She wants to use nonprofits, “civil society organizations,” [yes, they really like this way] individuals and “faith groups” to promulgate the “goals that we have embraced.”
Mrs. Clinton says her listeners need to “keep faith with future generations” in pursuing the agenda. She pledges her country’s efforts “to continue our work together. we simply cannot afford to fail.”
Chattanooga is being propagandized by a faux local economy actor.
Thrive 2055 another marketing effort
Thrive 2055 is part of this program. The program is in it infancy, but the federally program wants to have a pretense of public input. Which entities are combined to put on this act? A 2011 slide of the area around Chattanooga states the goal as “reconfiguration of region” to include the area in three states, 14 counties defined by watersheds and “cultural and heritage assets.” The administrative and marketing “partnerships” comprise local, state and U.S. governments, “regional organizations,” the Chattanooga Chamber and the “philanthropic community” whose goal is to “leverage private and public commitments.” Big players are HUD, DOT and EPA, federal regulators, which held webinars for local activists.
Southeast Tennessee Development District is involved in the U.N. work in the area. Want to spend some time there for me?
McBride Dale Clarion has been tasked to promote the effort among Chattanoogans. The theory of “building green” gives officials power to decides when and where you can develop property. VMT, or vehicle miles traveled, need to be reduced. A helpful disincentive to travel by car: Higher gas prices through taxes; F$10 a gallon for gas “will go a long way to reducing vehicle miles traveled. Another policy goal is to turn off [the cars of] users who have used up their carbon credits.”
Environmental quality is a buzzword. If that term is promoted at a public meeting, get the meaning down in writing, Mr. Casey advises. He has a separate talk about getting things in writing (check YouTube). Comprehensive plan eventually will control actions of city council members and county commissioners in the creation of ordinances.
The hard sell ‘tackling climate change’
2009 video encouraging people to reducing their carbon footprint. Getting dad to insulate the loft, taking holiday by train vs. car. The students in their class raise hands, but one student won’t raise her hand. But the girl is blown up in the classroom, with her blood and internal organs splattered on her horrified classmates.
Auschwitz was the result of socialist agenda having its way with undesirables. After the fact. “We are at the great advantage of seeing what they think ought to be done before they actually do it. I hope this is a motivating factor for you.” These people will prosecute their position no matter what it takes.
Life in a “sustainable community” (it’s not local economy)
A 1976 quote from Habitat 1 defines “sustainable community.” It means nothing at all, really. People tell us it means what you want it to mean; you just tell us, and we’ll make it happen. A 1996 plan won a gold medal for this forthright definition.
“A sustainable community is one that provides all of its own needs for air, water, land (or food and fiber) and energy resources within the confines of its own site.”
In a note of optimism, Mr. Casey says he doubts “sustainability” idea can ever come about. But the people who want it are striving toward that goal.
What about freedom of choice for person living under its sway? Local planning book out of Minnesota state government says the following:
People should be able to choose where they live and do business, as long as they pay the identifiable costs of those choices and do not impose unaccounted-for costs on other people or nature, now or in the future.
The definition includes ideas of “intergenerational equity” to prevent exploitation of mother earth. Intragenerational equity is the distribution of all resources across the generation that exists. Species equity is the third idea. The Endangered Species Act intends to bring to life this idea.
The feds prosecute their goals through a Council on Environmental Equity that defends “species equity” for a particular frog. The effort is “a usurpation of God’s throne because in our society it used to be acknowledged that the Creator sits on his throne and grants you and [me] certain inalienable rights *** and now we have an agency that sits and determines what rights the toad frog have over the property owner.” It is “religious law” long in force.
Chattanooga to face outside ‘raters’
If the scheme progresses, Chattanooga will have to live up to a rating scheme. Not the corporation, but the people themselves, who will be assessed by means of smart meters. [EPB is bringing online smart meters with federal dollars.] One form of pollution that will be targeted is emissions of ambient noise and light. Light escaping your property might be an offense. Sustainable development intends to cover every part of your life. Sylacauga, Ala., adopted an environmental code that forced a man to abandon a business because he couldn’t afford bringing lighting up to code.
A rule for every part of this chaotic world
➤ Food freedom? No, food policy. The foodshed concept penalizes food brought in from outside, with the goal being to grow everything locally. Key words: “Social justice and environmental justice from seed to table.” There will be a food policy council eventually. In Tennessee, Knoxville leads the way. Several such local systems exist in Alabama. “The term food citizenship is defined as the practice in engaging in food-related behaviors that support, rather than threaten, the development of democratic, socially and economically just, and environmentally sustainable food system.”
Lewis County, Tenn., in 2009 passed a proclamation to approve food policy, and urged residents to uphold these ideals and to heckle others to do the same. A locavore is one who consumes and grows food within 100 miles. Concept of food miles is being taught in schools to make children feel guilty about buying a carrot in Chattanooga that came from California.
➤ Transportation. A 2009 report “Sustainable transportation in Tennessee” proposes a “restructuring of society such that our needs *** can be met in local community by driving only short distances, or walking or biking near our homes.” The goal is to reduce VMTs, or vehicle miles traveled. A 2010 legal analysis for East Coast states proposes taking data from all cars when they refuel and the data collected prompts mitigation fees to be assessed against the driver.
➤ RFID, radio frequency identification devices. Cell phones are targeted for use to determine travel and miles used. Officials want to use the data to determine bus routes and other elements of a new society.
➤ The “triple bottom line.” The agenda has three parts: Social, economic, environmental. Where they come together is called the triple bottom line. David Crockett didn’t explain it, but Mr. Casey say he will. The global program is typified by news from Japan. Public happiness arises from successful imposition of all the goals, and allows (somehow) a way to measure their success. Gross Social Feel Good index is determined by surveys of people who are being primed for such plans. Just google LA21.
➤ Human free zones. The EPA has published a plan for the Southeastern part of the U.S., including Tennessee. “Take 50 percent of the continental United States, and set it aside for human free zones. No human is to be allowed in 50 percent of the continental United States.” People will be removed into these zones. Removal of people would include removal of “invasive species,” which came from Europe and a reintroduction native animals. Wolves, wildcats are intended to be re-established as predators.
The federal government claims a duty to reestablish a balance between man and nature. Human free corridors are proposed to wind through human-dominated areas. Included in human removal efforts are limits on coastal areas. Swaths of Atlantic coastline in the U.S. are already dubbed ecologically sensitive zones. Sports fishermen are limited to 27 days a year, not enough to make a living.
The symbol of this warfare against property rights is the red cockaded woodpecker, in whose name the new system will be brought about, a system that imposes a taking of land without the trouble of condemnation and eminent domain proceedings in court.
➤ Preserving land for future generations. He presents a chart showing land in Alabama already set aside for the Forever Wild Land Trust, for which millions of dollars were spent to spare from being defeated politically. A federal government map shows even greater areas set aside as human being-free zones.
Please, get rid of the free market
The lecture provides a million-dollar quote. When Mr. Casey heard this quote from Henry Lamb, a famous Tennessee property rights activists specializing in environmentalism, he disbelieved, and sought to track down the source. He obtained it from a book from a U.N. repository library in Tallahassee:
Land, because of its unique nature and the crucial role it plays in human settlements, cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. Private land ownership is also a principal instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it may become a major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development schemes. Social justice, urban renewal and development, the provision of decent dwellings and health conditions for the people, can only be achieved if land is used in the interest of society as a whole. Public control of land use is therefore indispensable *** . [My italics]
Land use control is a term of art used by planners in public meetings. Don’t leave any meeting where the usage is not defined as, essentially, public takings under the guise of a social good.
Black people? Not invulnerable
Most people who come to listen to Mr. Casey are white. But his concerns are illustrated by a conflict in Richland County, S.C., whose officials on a county council adopted a Vision 2020 that gives special privileges to “villages,” and denies people in rural areas the means of developing property for a barber shop or a garage. The plan declares where growth occurs, and who will profit and who will lose. The plan would force everyone into villages, around which are “urban boundary zones” and rural areas, where blacks reside. Property not in the village has value reduced or eliminated because it is illegitimate for human use, and not serviceable to utilities. “It creates a two-tiered system,” those in the village who can accumulate wealth and those outside who are forbidden. “That robs these property owners of wealth.”
A replica of God’s ark of the covenant with the children of Israel is used by United Nations activists to suggest a new divine covenant between a deity, mother earth, and mankind.
Mr. Casey ends his lecture discussing the explicitly religious framework of the U.N. program. He cites the “ark of hope” in the United Nations, where it sat in a New York meditation room with people praying in front of it. It’s a knockoff of the Israelite ark of the covenant and contains an earth charter and other holy documents.
Many thanks to TinShipProd and its YouTube presentation of Mr. Casey’s lecture. You should view the 1 hour 23 minute talk through this link. The lecture was given in Chattanooga March 16, 2013.
— David Tulis airs Nooganomics.com weekdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at 1240 Copperhead AM in Soddy-Daisy. Please contact him through this website. If you wish to advertise with him, he offers a super cheap advertising rate here at the start of his show.
