Yesterday we ran a post highlighting a proposal by the unholy troika of local / regional enviros, the socialist majority of the Wicomico County Council (led by John Cannon and Bill McCain) and County Executive Rick Pollitt (who is attempting to PUBLICLY straddle the fence as usual).  This legislation would legalize the theft of land from Wicomico County farmers.

In our post we discussed why enviro groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) need to participate in socialist schemes rather than actually solve problems as they claim.  Today I noticed further evidence of this from the Commonwealth.

Oyster packers and waterman wish to expand the planting of Asian oysters.  The CBF and other lefty enviros vehemently oppose this.  Their claim is that there could be “unforseen consequences” of introducing a non-native species into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  I would agree, except that these oysters are STERILE.  They can’t reproduce.  Of course, there may be “unforseen consequences” of the sun rising tomorrow.

One pleasant and unforseen by-product of using sterilized stock is that these oysters grow to market size in 12 - 18 months rather than the more typical 36 - 48 months.  The economic impact of this could be immense.

Using seed stock which grows at such a fast rate may lead to possible solutions for the successful reintroduction of the native Crassostrea virginicus (our native oyster).  MSX and Dermo, the diseases that have decimated C. virginicus don’t seem to attack young oysters.  More importantly, we could see the revitalization of a once thriving industry.

Federal and state governments, as well as groups such as the CBF, claim that they want to see the oyster industry revitalized.  Then why do they fight real solutions at every turn?

A real solution has a real impact.  If the oyster industry were truly revitalized government labs would have one less issue to use in begging for tax dollars.  Groups such as the CBF couldn’t whine about this issue in their fundraising appeals.

The purpose of groups like these are to spend as much money as possible without actually accomplishing something.  If you accomplish something, your funding could dry up.  If your funding dries up, you might have to get a real job.  Therefore, it is better to not solve real problems and to participate in socialist schemes which strip productive members of society of their rights.

The current legislation to strip Wicomico farmers of their property rights (without fair compensation) is one such scheme.  It’s perfect for the lefty enviro and political classes.  It accomplishes nothing, other than to possibly postpone future development of farmland.  Annexation ensures that.  It makes their NIMBY contributors feel good about themselves.  It has the added value of harming farmers, who tend to be more conservative than their own far left constituencies.

Real solutions to real problems?  Not on your life.  Why produce when you can steal?