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Brownfield
Articles:
Fear Not-The
Odds Are on
Your Side
Derry Brownfield
August 29, 2004
NewsWithViews.com
Is your board of supervisors considering a program for designation of certain county roads as Scenic Byways?
Have roads in your community been nominated as Scenic Byways by your local chamber of commerce, historical society or other groups promoting tourism, historic preservation, or an environmental agenda?
There is plenty of propaganda and misleading information coming from special interest groups about the alleged benefits of Scenic Byways. Here are some facts you are probably not hearing:
Your Private property rights will be restricted.
Even if your land does not join a Scenic Byway, whole "corridors" will be impacted by "scenic viewshed regulations," "historic/natural resource districts," "overlay district zoning" or special "heritage districts" which can cut wide regulatory swaths through a county. By approving a Scenic Byway designation, county government has set the stage for special interests to exert pressure for further land use controls by county, state and federal agencies, and "preservation" and "conservation" groups.
Scenic Byways are just 'the foot in the door'.
Further attempts to control use of private property will follow Scenic Byway designation as landowners are pressured to sell or donate "conservation easements" to government agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. Conservation easements are not true easements, but are a dangerous and deceptive legal device by which government agencies and their surrogates (such as The Nature Conservancy, who pose as "private, non-profit charitable trusts") are able to control you and restrict the use of your property. Conservation easements are often "flipped" by the "non-profits" to government agencies at a profit.
Good roads are the community's lifeline.
Especially in rural areas road construction and needed upgrades can be stopped, delayed, restricted and made much more costly by special interest "stakeholders" from inside and outside your county. They are willing to lobby legislators, pressure supervisors, or even litigate in court to "preserve" just about everything having "scenic, historic or cultural value," regardless of the costs to the local residents who depend on good roads.
Don't be duped by Tourism and the bait of tourist dollars.
Tourism only benefits a few select businesses, often to the detriment of others. Most jobs created by tourism are seasonal and low-paying, and often depend on government funding - your tax dollars! Tourist dollars are discretionary dollars - then the economy is in a downturn, tourists don't spend. Most tourists are the "see and pee" variety. They spend little or nothing locally. Look carefully at the claims made by people promoting tourism, and look carefully at the people making the claims. Are they benefiting from the tax dollars? Whose pockets are they lining? Follow the money trail - you may be surprised where it leads.
"Scenic Byways will increase government grants and funding to our county."
This claim is often heard from Scenic Byway promoters. It's just more deceptive bait. Government money is not free. It comes out of your pockets. It come with strings and controls attached, often requiring "local matching funds." It is often diverted from legitimate government programs and needs. Many times the 'grants' and funding go to organizations who are working against your economic interests and who seek to control your private property. Don't take the bait!
2004 Derry Brownfield - All Rights Reserved
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Derry Brownfield was born in 1932 and grew up during the depression. He is a farmer and a broadcaster. Derry attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. He taught Vocational Agriculture several years before going to work as a Marketing Specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Derry served as Director of the Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation at the Kansas City Stockyard prior to establishing himself in farm broadcasting.
Derry started farming when he was 16 years old and received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer degree in 1949. Since that time the Brownfield Farm has grown to over 1000 acres maintaining a herd of 200 registered Charolias cows.
In 1972, Derry and his partner established the Brownfield Network which now serves 250 radio stations throughout the Midwest with news and market information. In 1994, Derry started his own syndicated radio talk show and he is one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in America. The Derry Brownfield Show can be heard on approximately 80 radio stations in 23 states. With his entertaining sense of humor and witty commentary he has captured audiences for over 30 years. His ability to present an informative talk show while being light and colorful is why he has a large loyal listening audience.
Derry Brownfield is a practical farmer, a practical
business man and a very entertaining speaker. He travels extensively throughout
the country speaking about his common-sense point of view. Web Site: www.derrybrownfield.com
Further attempts to control use of private property
will follow Scenic Byway designation as landowners are pressured to sell
or donate "conservation easements" to government agencies such
as the National Park Service and the Forest Service.
