I'm forwarding this on with a few
thoughts that are connected to the instream flow
issue we are working with.

While the author is writing from a
certain perspective, and is speaking more to the building of schools regardless
of community support, she also hits on a good number of issues that are
connected with how we work on the instream flow rule
as we become involved in its second attempt.

We see a lot of people coming to our
area to retire ... we've been at the top of the "most desirable
locations" list in Where to Retire magazine, among
others.  We've seen many of the region's resource-based family supporting
avenues of employment dry up for one reason or another.  We've opposed an instream flow rule that would more than likely have become
an economic disaster for our area and beyond.

We've got to do a better job than
the initial version of the rule represented.  We've got to focus on a
whole lot more than just the instream flow rule
itself.  We are going to be using grants that come from our own pockets,
and those of our neighbors, through tax dollars.  We've got to squeeze
every penny of those funds until Lincoln screams.  We've got to look at
every resource brought into the process as an investment, and we've got to
figure out how to get a much better than 1:1 return on that investment ... and
have as much of that ROI spent locally as possible.

While we are working on the instream flow process, we need to be paying attention to
how what we are doing can help revive our local agricultural base, and how we
can help bring greater diversification into local agriculture.  Our main
focus will be on working to build a more viable instream
flow system than the initial attempt would have been.  When we participate
in building it, though, we need to work to include pieces that
will make it as easy for farmers and other water users to plug into and
enhance as possible.

Let's think about how we make the instream flow support system also become something that
will help build a greater degree of economic independence into our community
than we already have.  It would be good to have a local economy that will
be more resilient and less vulnerable to the consequences of some future
recession or other large-scale economic problem than we have now.

We can be pretty certain that the
old version of the rule would have caused severe societal disruption within ten
years.  How do we make the new version so that it will support economic
opportunities that will make it possible for our children to move back here
someday when they feel the tug of home?

Norm

From: [email-masked] [mailto:[email-masked]]

Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 2:19 PM

To: [email-masked]

Subject: Joyce Morrison -- The Bankrupting of Rural America

Joyce Morrison -- The
Bankrupting of Rural America

http://www.newswithviews.com/Morrison/joyce19.htm

THE
BANKRUPTING OF RURAL AMERICA

Joyce
Morrison

November 19, 2004

NewsWithViews.com

While taking a little ride in our
local community to view the awesome beauty of the fall leaves, we saw new
houses dotting the hillsides. Many of these houses were large and extravagant
and the thought, “how can they pay for them?" immediately crossed my
mind.

In our small, rural Illinois
community, there are few jobs that can support this type of construction. The
top wage earners locally are in the education or medical fields and many of the
homes belong to this group. Another segment who might build would be those who
commute to the city for better paying positions, but most local jobs remain in
the minimum wage category.

A third segment of builders are
those who really can’t afford to build but couldn’t resist the low
interest loans. They now have a new house and not a dime in their pocket that
is not plastic. Any unexpected expenditures means major problems.

Looking a little closer we see
new schools being built and we wonder who will pay for them.

Tourism and recreational jobs
that were meant to replace jobs lost by factory closings will be the first to
feel the impact as people are forced to choose between their wants and needs. .

Many of the workers at these jobs
are already struggling and collect unemployment part of the year. Even when
working, they depend on government programs to make ends meet. That is the real
side of economic development in rural America. The costly economic development
programs are rarely accompanied by jobs that pay a decent wage.

With heating bills, gasoline,
building supplies, property taxes and other expenses on the rise, can the
“cost of living increases” possibly keep up with the “cost of
living?”

Schools in rural communities are
highly dependent upon agriculture for their existence. Without major industry,
farm land is especially vital to provide the property tax dollars needed for
schools and local government to operate and the tax rates have been extremely
high in recent years. In our area, 66% of the tax dollar will go to the school
district.

The county and schools never try
to cut costs, they just try to tax the public for more money.

Grain prices are at an all time
low. Government subsidies fall far short of bringing prices to the break-even
point. The American farmer is in a serious financial situation.

The cost of nitrogen has
quadrupled. Fuel costs have doubled and the cost to purchase equipment has
forced the small farmer to use equipment that is forty years old or older. A 50
lb. bag of seed corn often costs over $100 and the list goes on.

While many city consumers, say
“who cares?” rural communities cannot exist without agriculture.
They depend on local farms to be the backbone to keep the economy healthy. In
Illinois, one of every four jobs is related to agriculture.

Every business from the implement
dealer, feed and seed sales to the coffee shops depends on farm related jobs as
their consumer base and this has a domino effect.

Our schools are decreasing in
enrollment. Where families once had four or five children, many now only have
one or two and yet we see new schools being built in rural areas. It appears
they are counting the chicks before they hatch and someone is going to get hit
hard for at least the next twenty years to pay for extravagant buildings which
are often unnecessary.

Think about this--IF the economy
should fail and the housing boom screeches to a halt, who will be left to pay
for these new schools?

Will retirees on fixed incomes be
able to hang on? An increase in their property taxes could possibly put them
out of their homes. If you think you own your property, try missing your
property tax payments and see who really owns it.

Our school district is in the
process of constructing two new schools. Although the people defeated the building
project by 70% with a non-binding referendum, and the need for new schools was
never proven, the school administration smelled a grant. With encouragement
from the state Capital Development Board, they totally disregarded the wishes
of the people and started their project.

It had to be proven new schools
were needed before the grant was made available. Since the first architect
didn’t come up with the right information, apparently they found one who
would play with the figures and fudge on the condition of the buildings and by
hook or crook, we’d get those new schools….regardless of cost.

A wink from the state and from
the people who deal with selling the bonds, and they have their approval to put
a small community, against their wishes, in debt so deep they can never recover
until the year 2029. The grant only covers a portion of the costs….the
taxpayers at the local level will be taxed for over $40 million before the debt
is paid.

The school superintendent
immediately retired after the paperwork was done and now she enjoys a huge
retirement salary while the rest of the community is struggling.

This particular school district
is in trouble and the high school has not yet been completed. The district has
a $5.6 million budget deficit - and this has nothing to do with building the
new schools. This is merely their regular operating costs and current
expenditures.

The building costs will be tacked
on in 2008 and the 2009 tax bills will crush many home owners and farmers.
These new schools can literally bankrupt the community.

It would appear this is not
unique to our area alone, because this situation exists throughout Illinois and
possibly the nation.

Recently I heard a man say
“with sheckles, go shackles.” There is no
such thing as a free grant or subsidy. Something has been compromised or given
in return.

The schools are sacred cows and
cannot be touched. When they say it is “for the children,” everyone
is supposed to bow in homage while we watch the children being dumbed down. The finest lawyers fear to tackle the
corruption that lies within the school system.

We have gubernatorial candidates
saying “if elected, we will spend more money and fix education.”
These same candidates don’t even know the three E’s being taught
which now supersede the three R’s.

It is futile to fight against, if
one does not know what one is fighting for." -- Ayn
Rand (1905-1982) Author Source: Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal

If this similar situation is
happening in your school district, please email [email-masked] and tell us of
your school district’s building projects.

© 2004 Joyce Morrison - All
Rights Reserved

Joyce Morrison is a weekly
columnist and news reporter for the Illinoisleader.com,
an online conservative news source. She also writes for SOWER magazine,
NewsWithViews.com, as well as various other publications. She is a weekly
participant on the teleconference of the Illinois Policy Institute, a
conservative think tank and is a pro-life, pro-family activist.

Morrison attempts to educate the
public regarding the dangers coming to their local communities through
Sustainable Development and Agenda 21 programs which are designed to gradually
take control of all private property through undue regulations.

She is a chapter leader for
Concerned Women for America as well as Secretary to the Board of Directors of
Rural Restoration/ADOPT Mission, a national farm
ministry located in Sikeston, MO. FarmersRuralRestoration.com.
Her most enjoyable time is spent teaching a senior adult Sunday School class which is a focus on hope and encouragement.

This information and much more that
you need to know about the ESA, the Klamath Basin, and private property rights
can be found at The Klamath Bucket Brigade's website - http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/
-- please visit today.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted

material  herein is distributed without profit or
payment to those who have

expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for
non-profit

research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

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