Clearly, political science

It’s becoming clear to more people that environmental activists use the word “science” to front their real agenda—it’s not about real science; it’s about power and funding. And, we’re encouraged to note that some of our state legislators are on to their politics.

An Associated Press story published in the Wilmington StarNews quoted Rep. George Cleveland of Onslow County. He said that a Coastal Resources Commission warning about a three-foot rise in sea level “wasn’t science, unless you call it political science.” That’s clever—and correct. Rep. Pat McElraft of Carteret County asked the CRC to go back to their drafting board and “use some real science.” Good advice, but that won’t support the CRC agenda. (link)

Naturally, the AP reporter couldn’t resist some jabs at these responsibly skeptical legislators who won’t be duped. Allen Reed writes that they were “ridiculed” in the blogosphere and by comedian Stephan Colbert. Yes, that renowned scientist and comedic political hack who probably doesn’t know what the word science means.

Mr. Cleveland isn’t fooled; nor is a majority of our state lawmakers.

A bill was passed Monday to prevent state environmental and planning bureaucrats from regulating land owners based on conjecture about how much sea levels might rise in the next hundred years. No evidence exists that it will happen. In fact, records in Wilmington show that there’s been no sea level rise in recent history. (link)

The House vote was 68-46 for putting off regulations, based on presumed sea level rise, until 2016. The Senate voted 40-1 against political science. Laugh that off Mr. Smarty-pants Colbert.

Of course, the AP reporter injected the requisite, but trite phrase “Opponents worried…”—environmental activists always promote baseless worries. Scares have worked to their advantage when they can’t produce facts, logic or common sense.

It’s refreshing to know that some of our representatives have the courage to stand up to these fools who, for too long, have negatively influenced our lives with their phony “science” claims.

And, if I haven’t made myself clear on this matter, I’ll probably have more to say about it later.

Celebrating independence

Today is not Veteran’s Day. It’s not Flag Day. It’s not “The 4th.” And it’s not cuatro de Julio.

On July 4th in 1776 the Continental Congress of the former English colonies in America adopted the final Declaration of Independence. Fifty-six well-educated men of property signed their names knowing the act was treasonous—immediately they became traitors to King George III—“the Crown.” They essentially signed a death warrant on themselves.

Yet, they pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Ultimately, most of them lost their wealth; many lost family members; several died poor.

From their reading of English philosophers (including John Locke) and knowledge of British law (that they respected), they declared self-evident truths: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (formerly “Property”).

Governments, wrote these men, are established to protect these rights and get their powers “from the consent of the governed.” Further, whenever government became “destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.”

In this unanimous declaration by representatives of all thirteen united States, the King of Great Britain was indicted for “a history of repeated injuries and usurpations,” resulting in “Tyranny over these States.”

In a long list of grievances they cited proof: “He has refused his Assent to Laws…(fatigued legislators) into compliance with his measures…(obstructed) the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners…obstructed the Administration of Justice…made judges dependent on his Will alone…erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people…(kept) Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures…(subjected) us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution…(imposed) Taxes on us without our Consent…(altered) fundamentally the Forms of our Government…excited domestic insurrections amongst us.”

These grievous conditions had been building since 1763. During that period the King and Parliament had passed a number of “Acts” that restricted the colonists’ liberty and took their property. They “Petitioned for Redress,” resisted with Tea Parties in 1773 and ignored some of the acts.

Finally, delegates from the colonies met in Philadelphia in September 1774 in support of problems in Massachusetts. They endorsed the Suffolk (county) Resolves that condemned the “hand which would ransack our pockets.” But they rejected the Galloway Plan by Pennsylvania to establish a federal union of the American colonies. Still they declared loyalty to the King, but he replied about these insolent colonists: “The die is cast.”

Massachusetts took the initiative. These people established a “revolutionary government” and raised an army of “minutemen.” Guns were common in every household and people were prepared to defend themselves.

On April 18, 1775 the shooting war started with “the shot heard ‘round the world” at Concord, Mass. between British troops commanded by Gen. Thomas Gage and Massachusetts militiamen. The Patriots were overpowered and had to yield. But “thousands of armed American colonists traveled to Boston.” War resolutions came from the colonies “with the most outspoken coming from North Carolina.”

The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10 and asked George Washington to take command of 30,000 colonists that surrounded Gen. Gage’s forces in Boston on July 3, 1775.

Long, hard years of war followed. It ended when Gen. Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. Washington at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781; and officially closed with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

On this Independence Day we celebrate freedom won by our forefathers from oppressive government. Today we face similar challenges. As government powers expand, our liberties diminish. Questions remain. Will modern Americans have the will and the courage to resist oppression? We have choices. Will petitions from the People that God-given rights to life, liberty and property be protected by government? Or will we give up on freedom and, someday, celebrate Dependence Day?

(Quotes above from: A Patriot’s History of the United States, Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen; Sentinel, The Penguin Group, 2007.)