QUESTION ANWERED? NOT REALLY

A LOOK AT LISA BYERS RESPONSES

TO MIKE CARLSON AND OTHERS

A breakdown of the letter to the editor in the San Juan Journal dated March 5, 2013.

"I believe that government has a limited, but important role to play in society. Government is not the answer for resolving many of society’s needs. Many needs are best addressed through volunteer efforts, or by for-profit or non-profit businesses."

 

This is the communal approach veiled.
What is the limited role government plays? Which of society’s needs is government not the answer for?
What needs are best addressed through volunteer efforts, for-profit or nonprofit businesses?
As you will see throughout this document her responses are vague and obviously applicable to anyone anywhere. One must ask, who controls which agency listed above and is responsible for what needs? One can apply the above definition to a government that controls most of the needs and dictates who gets what; then allowing the private agencies little involvement in minor needs while still under great government control. This is as opposed to the limited role of government and the private agencies exercising the most control over meeting the public needs.

"When we, as a community, grapple with an issue, I believe that government is well-suited for convening people, setting common goals, and then developing incentives to implement solutions. I believe that some of our best innovations have come about through thoughtful collaboration between government and individuals working through for-profit and non-profit businesses."

Again she comments in vague wide-open style. As we have proven over and over again in this County we are very capable of convening the citizenry without the help of the government when we desire to do so. What are these common goals? Developing what kind of incentives? It makes a difference. Will these be the goals and incentives that lead us down a path of freedom in the exercise of our common rights or will they be of a type that leads us away from those freedoms and rights and down the path of extreme socialism?

"When we choose to adopt regulations, they should be designed so that businesses that follow the rules may thrive, and property owners may have flexibility in how they use their property. One of the challenges of government is that regulations stay on the books after they are no longer useful, thus becoming an impediment. We must be diligent about pruning out old rules that no longer serve us."

When we adopt regulations? Lisa Byers has a very long history and track record of wanting to apply regulations. Those that follow the rules may thrive and may have flexibility. Thrive and have flexibility by what standard? According to the speech Lisa Byers made to the NEI in June 2012 that would be an extreme socialist view of and flexibility and thriving. Keep in mind that how much you can thrive on your property and how much flexibility you have on your property are very controlled by the community land trust model Lisa lives by. Privately, not of too much concern, but Lisa Byers is no longer seeking to leave her beliefs in the private domain.

"It is very important to me that government officials recognize that uncertainty has a significant detrimental effect on business and residential development. The length of time that it took this county to get through the required update to the Critical Areas Ordinance is a case in point. Nine years is too long. The uncertainty had very real economic costs."

Yes and it would’ve been much stricter and moved forward much faster had Byers been in control. Remember, the new approach nationally and worldwide to extreme socialism and/or communism is environmentalism. Ms. Byers is an extreme environmentalist.

"Mike, you say that you have made a living in the islands without government help. I have a feeling that you don’t mean that in the literal sense. You travel on roads and ferries. You know kids or have kids who have gone to school and gotten an education. You’ve probably used maps and weather forecasts. You’ve had a clinic or hospital to help you through an illness or accident. Put simply, at some point, you’ve been helped by your neighbors. And government is, at its most simple, one of the ways that we come together to make our society function."

Friends, is Obama ringing in your ears? You didn’t make that did you? Note the last sentence. “And government is, at its most simple, one of the ways that we come together to make our society function.” Actually not bad if you’re a freedom loving American capitalist who believes in limited government. Otherwise, this is socialism plus.
Please note there are also several things implied here. Mike is referring to the fact that he has made a living here without “government assistance (government handout).” Everyone uses all of the facilities listed above. These are not government handouts; these are local, state and national resources available to everyone at any time. The government help Mike is referring to is not available to everyone as are the conveniences and necessities she lists above. Very deceptive of her!

"I know what it is like to work hard, save money, and buy property. I know how scary it can be to think that you won’t be able to provide for your kids. I know how difficult it is when you’ve been running your business successfully, but then the rules change and you have to change in order to survive, let alone thrive. You wrote in your letter that you thought my response to an issue was cavalier. I’m sorry you got that impression. I think that people who work with me would tell you that is not their experience of me. I think they would say that I am thoughtful and balanced. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to re-shape that perception."

Cavalier? I do not know. But I do know she will change the rules if elected and we will all have to worry about surviving instead of thriving. She says her friends will tell you she is not Cavalier. No kidding, they are of the same mindset she is. By the way, has she ever owned property independent of a community land trust? I’m sure she is thoughtful and balanced. I’m confident she has a very thoughtful and balanced approach to socialism.

"My work has involved hiring people and worrying about making payroll. I have taken risks in order to keep people employed, because I know that without a job they would suffer, and they might move away. We need good jobs, with good wages in our community so that people may thrive."

Ms. Byers says, “we need good jobs, good wages in our community so that people may thrive.” Really, why didn’t any of us think of that? Again note that is Byers is not responsible for producing a product that meets this payroll, it comes from mostly donations and grants. It’s a good thing she’s a smooth talker.

"I think our economy in San Juan County is transitioning. We will continue to rely on construction and tourism, while at the same time there are more people employed here who are exporting their ideas and creativity. They are writers, artists, scientists, educators, consultants, and more. This is a place where people come to relax, to learn, and to be inspired. The more we can capitalize on that—by continuing to value this unique environment—the more our economy will thrive."

“I think our economy in San Juan County is transitioning.” Now everyone must ask, “Transitioning to what?” Remember that it has been shown before that she is an economic environmentalist and conservationist bent on social and economic justice and equity for all. You need to go back and review what Lisa Byers means by “economic justice and equity.” With that in mind go back and read the last line of the above paragraph and while holding that thought move on to the following paragraph.

"I believe that we do need regulations to protect our environment. That is a consequence of having more people. I believe that the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) passed by the county council last December was a valid attempt, within the requirements of existing state law, to find a way to allow property owners as much flexibility as possible. However, it is important with any regulation that we understand how it works in real life. We need to gather case studies of on-the-ground experience, and then make changes to improve the application and predictability of regulations. Within the context of state law, we should strive to make regulations as clear, consistent and as flexible as possible. If state law makes that impossible, we should work together to change state law."

As you can see, the above paragraph is mostly vague, sound bite election speech. It doesn’t really tell us much about the direction she would like to see this go and the “flexibility” is mostly hers. It does sound like we are in a lot more bureaucracy if she is elected.

"Finally, I believe that my work experience makes me very well suited to be a county council member. I have worked with others to build housing for almost 5% of Orcas Island’s year-round population. The construction of that housing created jobs, and the finished product—the houses—provide a home for many people who work at jobs we depend upon on a daily basis"

17 years of work experience for a private organization with a deep foundation in socialism is not the experience we need in a person “very well-suited to be a County Council member.” Although one should have no complaint with her or anyone else “privately” making these opportunities available to some it is not an agenda we want a County leader bringing to the table.

"Through collaboration, hard work and innovation, I have led an organization, using a using a mix of private and public financing, to do something that many thought was not possible. I hope I am able to bring those same skills of hard work and collaborative problem solving to the county council"

I leave you to consider what economic and political philosophies she will use these skills and work hard to achieve. Lisa Byers has a very clear and long track record for all to view.
I have tried to expose many of the questions everyone should be asking, or better yet demanding, Lisa Byers directly, specifically and factually respond to concerning her publicly stated and deep-rooted beliefs in socialism. Everyone needs to insist she speak directly exactly what she has said in those videos.
The exposure of this track record is beginning to get some traction throughout the County. I hope you will take the time to reflect on the above “song and dance” she continues to present to the public and the deception that lies therein. She is getting a lot of traction and passes in the local liberal press as we all would expect. Please encourage everyone to write articles and letters demanding her specific and explicit public responses to the socialist views she states in the videos. She states that this speech and the views held in them are the “model” for OPAL Community Land Trust.