The satisfactory rating for Delta comes from an inspection conducted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Delta Dam impounds the Mohawk River at the palisades, about four miles north of downtown Rome . . .New York State cannot inspect its own dam because the Feds say no?
The satisfactory rating for Hinckley, about 20 miles upstream from the Village of Herkimer, is based on assurances from the federal government. Even though the dam astride the West Canada Creek on the Oneida-Herkimer county line is owned by New York, state DEC inspectors were turned away when they showed up for a no-notice check on June 19, 2006. Blocking their access were guards for the New York State Power Authority, which operates electricity-generating stations downstream.
Read the story of how the DEC inspectors (who we pay to keep us safe) were given the runaround, and the response from the Federal authorities that was basically "trust us."
Sorry, trust must be earned.
Pursuant to Federal policies: (1) our industrial capacity has been exported offshore, (2) American companies and assets (including utilities and highways) are subject to foreign control, and (3) we are overrun with illegal aliens. It would seem no big deal for an enemy to collapse our financial markets and infrastructure, and take over -- from within.
NO, I do not feel safe. . . . and these are areas that are federal responsibility.
This is serious stuff folks . . . The Federal government can shove a power line in your back yard, make you spend millions on drinking water regulations to address issues that have never been a local problem, control what goes on in your classrooms -- but not do the things that only the Federal government can do to keep us safe.
What ever happened to the concept of a federal government with powers limited to those given in the Constitution, with all other powers reserved to the States and to the People?
We are well overdue for dusting off the concept of state's rights.
10 comments:
This constitutionalist is ready for a little housecleaning.
I'll get you a broom, Mrs. M!
To answer your question about states' rights, they died in the 1930s with FDR's court packing plan to advance his New Deal.
People v Lopez was the first case that breathed life into the 10th, but it was short lived. Congress can outlaw meducinal marijuan grown purely within state lines for a purely private use and it is constitutional based on the interstate commerce clause.
So, while it's valiant for everyone to cry about states' rights, they are a dollar short and a second late (or however the story goes).
LOL!! Don't forget the super-sized dustpan! ;)
Anon --
That pesky interstate commerce clause can be/has been used to justify just about anything.
That is why it is important to appoint strict constructionalists to the Supreme Court.
. . . and it is never too late . . . They have reversed themselves before.
While I don't disagree with you, I don't share your faith. Both political parties have enjoyed the extra power the court has awarded them using the interstate commerce clause. They would all rather die than appoint and confirm a bunch of strict-constructionists.
And, even if strict-constructionists were succefully apopointed, how long do you think it would take before Congress remembered that it can enter treaties that supersede the constitution? I can't remember the actual cases supporting this fact, but it is true. And before the courts destroyed the 10th, that's how Congress could expand some of its powers that the constitution limited or prohibited.
Maybe it's time for a new Revolution?
. . . But then again, from the behavior of our leaders, and their standing in the polls, no one seems to be taught any more the reasons why this country was founded.
I guess I'll just have to get used to the idea of an all-powerful government running a socialist state.
Strikeslip, you'd said, "no one seems to be taught any more the reasons why this country was founded." I have some heartening news for you. I attended the colloquium at the Alexander Hamilton Institute (founded by Hamilton College professors) and they are very much discussing our founding truths. This is incredibly encouraging. Upstate NY may yet be the place where freedom springs forth again!
It's nice the Sentinel does such an in depth report on all this (and many other local issues) thats the OD doesn't seem to care about.
Donna Donovan refuses to print anything about New Hartford. Why? Maybe...her husband has plans to run for Town Supervisor?
Jerome Donovan will not be any better, however, Donna will surely cover his exploits.
Does anyone know why Jerome Donovan left his State job in Utica? Perhaps, someone should be blogging about this?
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