Strike The Root

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.

  Federal Register Watch

by Mike Powers

November 25 - November 29, 2002

 What freedoms have you lost this week?

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents.  This column attempts to summarize the highlights (or lowlights) of the Federal Register during the preceding week.

Instructions for subscribing to the Federal Register can be found at the end of the column.

NOVEMBER 25, 2002 :

Department of Transportation –

New Reporting Requirements for Airlines

This ruling demands that all air carriers that file airline service quality performance reports must now collect and report the causes of delays and cancellations.

Hmmm . . . I can think of a few causes for airline delays.  How about the inefficient operation of the antiquated federal air traffic control system?  Or, perhaps the blame should be placed with the government-owned airports and their failure to build new gates and update baggage-handling systems in order to keep up with demand?

Privatization is the best cure for these ills, but it is unlikely that the Department of Transportation will ever acknowledge this.   

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-29910.htm   

NOVEMBER 27, 2002 :

Fish and Wildlife Service –

Proposal to Designate Critical Habitat for the Arizona Pygmy Owl

Although they readily admit that the total number of pygmy owls in Arizona is unknown, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate more than 1.2 million acres as critical habitat for the bird.  Over 145,000 acres of the proposed critical habitat is private land, including businesses that will be adversely affected by the ruling.

When private land is designated a critical habitat, the federal government imposes restrictions on any land use that may result in “destruction or adverse modification” of the habitat.   

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, “recognizing that governmental regulation involves adjustment of rights for the public good, the court has found that a regulation which curtails the most profitable use of property, resulting in a reduction in value or limitations on use, likewise does not necessarily result in a taking (Andrus v. Allard, 444 U.S. 51, 66 (1979).” 

An “adjustment” of rights?  In other words, a trampling of private property rights.  For the public good, of course.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-29617.htm  

Food and Nutrition Service –

Proposal to Revise Food Stamp Program Regulations to Include the Collection of Racial and Ethnic Information

The intent of the proposal is to prevent racial and ethnic discrimination against those who receive and apply for food stamps. 

Equal opportunity theft?

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30112.htm  

Presidential Documents –

George W. Bush Proclaims November 24-30, 2002 as “National Family Week”

I feel so much better now!

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30376.htm  

NOVEMBER 28, 2002 :

Thanksgiving Day – A day to give thanks that the bureaucrats were too busy eating turkey and stuffing to worry about imposing more stupid rules and regulations.

NOVEMBER 29, 2002 :

Fish and Wildlife Service –

Proposal to Designate Critical Habitat for the Klamath River and Columbia River Bull Trout  

Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate over 18,000 miles of streams and more than 500,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs in Montana , Washington , Idaho , and Oregon as critical habitat for the bull trout.

This is the same Klamath River region whose farmers experienced the catastrophic effects of the Endangered Species Act just over a year ago.  To preserve the habitat of the endangered sucker fish, the federal government shut off the irrigation canals that feed farms in the region. This left 1,400 farmers without any irrigation water, making their arid farms worthless and leaving them unable to provide a living for themselves while severely crippling an entire community that supports the farming industry.

It is evident that the Department of the Interior represents a greater threat to private property rights than any other government entity.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-29232.htm  

Department of State –

Renewal of Travel Ban to Libya

This notice renews the travel ban to Libya for all Americans, except those who are specifically authorized by the State Department.  This ban has been renewed annually since December 1981, when all United States passports were declared invalid for travel to, in, or through Libya .

Not that I would ever consider sightseeing in Tripoli , but why should the government tell me where I can and cannot travel?

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30450.htm  

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