Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> I am a past member of the Sierra Club. I am not anti-conservation, nor
> anti-environment. I was disgusted, though, by the anti-farmer attitude that
> I found within that organization.

Years ago I was sitting at my desk about to write a check to the 
Sierra Club. But I noticed something in the mail stack and read it. 
It was about the so-called Natural Streams Act in Missouri. Being 
pushed hard by the Sierra Club. Research found that if passed the Act 
would essentially create a police state of inspectors constantly 
checking on farmers and other rural landowners to make sure they 
obeyed the many rules. Cripes, the thing covered all land in a 
watershed. Duh! To make a long story short I began writing editorials 
and sending money to those opposed to the Act. Thanks to getting the 
facts out, we defeated the damned thing.

The Sierra Club will never get a penny from me. I have stopped 
calling myself an environmentalist. Don't want their brush by 
implication. I consider myself a steward of the land I own.

> Just as I am against taking land for the building of new Walmarts,
> particularly without just compensation, I am against governmental action
> that harms people without compensating them justly.

Buy land far from development.

Coincidentally, today I read an article about what South Africa is 
doing to redress the sins of apartheid and return blacks to the land. 
White farmers are being forced to sell. Most agree with the morality; 
the issue is just compensation. One case that had me shaking my head 
was land owned by a Christian church. Something big, like 25,000 
acres. Now what the hell does a church need with that much land?

Sorry, I'm losing control here. Bye.