Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe politics of paranoia
The politics of paranoia
By Steve Benen
It may be an obscure federal program, but the demise of the National Blueways System speaks to a larger pattern (thanks to my colleague Tricia McKinney for the heads-up).
The whole point of the program really, the only point was to recognize conservation efforts. The White River, for example, received the designation after the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Nature Conservancy recommended it for the honor. The Interior Department agreed, which again meant no new spending and no new regulations....last summer, Republican members of Congress from Arkansas and Missouri began complaining, asking the Interior Department how to revoke the designation. Why? Because conservatives, led in part by Sen. John Boozman (R-Arka.) believed the National Blueways System could force private landowners to cooperate with conservation efforts... there was nothing in the program that compelled anyone to do anything. But the right got paranoid and Republican members of Congress took that paranoia seriously.
Whats striking to me is how often stories like these pop up. A few months ago, for example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization decided to grant World Heritage status the Alamo, giving the Texas historical site the same status as other American treasures such as Independence Hall, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Statue of Liberty. Conservatives freaked out, saying this meant the U.N. might seize control of the landmark.
This happens all the time, at every level of government. The U.S. Senate cant ratify the Arms Trade Treaty because of delusional paranoia from the far-right, which Republican senators choose to take seriously. Congress wont consider expanded background checks because of baseless paranoia about a gun registry that would not and cannot exist. Republicans killed a treaty on the rights of people with disabilities because of paranoid conspiracy theories with no basis in reality.
- more -
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-politics-paranoia
By Steve Benen
It may be an obscure federal program, but the demise of the National Blueways System speaks to a larger pattern (thanks to my colleague Tricia McKinney for the heads-up).
A U.S. Interior Department program intended to recognize conservation efforts along the nations waterways was dissolved on Friday amid opposition from landowners and politicians who feared it would lead to increased regulations and possible land seizures.
The National Blueways System was created in May 2012 under President Barack Obamas Americas Great Outdoors Initiative. The program was voluntary, didnt include any new regulations, and a designation bestowed on only two rivers, one of which was dropped last year because of local opposition brought no additional funding.
The whole point of the program really, the only point was to recognize conservation efforts. The White River, for example, received the designation after the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Nature Conservancy recommended it for the honor. The Interior Department agreed, which again meant no new spending and no new regulations....last summer, Republican members of Congress from Arkansas and Missouri began complaining, asking the Interior Department how to revoke the designation. Why? Because conservatives, led in part by Sen. John Boozman (R-Arka.) believed the National Blueways System could force private landowners to cooperate with conservation efforts... there was nothing in the program that compelled anyone to do anything. But the right got paranoid and Republican members of Congress took that paranoia seriously.
Whats striking to me is how often stories like these pop up. A few months ago, for example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization decided to grant World Heritage status the Alamo, giving the Texas historical site the same status as other American treasures such as Independence Hall, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Statue of Liberty. Conservatives freaked out, saying this meant the U.N. might seize control of the landmark.
This happens all the time, at every level of government. The U.S. Senate cant ratify the Arms Trade Treaty because of delusional paranoia from the far-right, which Republican senators choose to take seriously. Congress wont consider expanded background checks because of baseless paranoia about a gun registry that would not and cannot exist. Republicans killed a treaty on the rights of people with disabilities because of paranoid conspiracy theories with no basis in reality.
- more -
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-politics-paranoia
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 529 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The politics of paranoia (Original Post)
ProSense
Jan 2014
OP
ProSense
(116,464 posts)1. Kick for
boo!
LisaLynne
(14,554 posts)2. Fundamentalist Christians have always been against the UN.
I don't even think they actually know why. They have conflated the US as a country somehow with their religion to the point that the US working in any way with anything else is an attack on Jesus. The more the Republicans become nothing but fundamentalists, the more WTF will be produced, like this.
treestar
(82,383 posts)3. Republican should be listed as a
Synonym for lunatic. The UN bit always cracks me up. Our sovereignty! Oh my!