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Environmentalist Informs Sedona Council of National Monument Downside

statue of libertySedona AZ (September 25, 2015) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:

AN OPEN LETTER TO SEDONA CITY COUNCIL (sent to Council members 9/21/15):

Hello,

I am a Sedona resident of 33 years and am beyond appalled and upset at even the chance that this area could be turned into a National Monument.

There is no point.

WHY?

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Why would we give our power away? Cause we assume we are not worthy or capable of taking better care of it than people 2500 miles away who have a million other things to worry about, including the impending bankruptcy/insolvency of the federal government itself?

We are less than two weeks away from another potential government shutdown. Would you really want this area shutdown by the federal government if they were the ones running this place and it was a National Monument closed off to tourists because of a government shutdown?

Can you not see from this one small unintended consequence that maybe there could be a million other unintended consequences that we can’t even see yet?

WHO WE ARE

To give you an idea who we are, we were essentially the only National Green Magazine in the country, based right here out of Sedona, for a number of years leading up to the ’08 crash. We were in Barnes and Noble, Borders, Walmart, Safeway, etc…All the way from New York to Florida to Texas to California. We are heavily involved in the Green Movement and sponsored nearly every major Green Trade Show in the country at one point in time or another.

The word “Green” means: Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice for all people worldwide. The mission statement of our company is to, “Create Social, Economic, and Environmental solutions for all people worldwide.”

It is our duty to be experts on the intersection of those three things. This issue is at that intersection.

THE FALSE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

House_of_representativesThis naive, local environmental movement doesn’t have a clue, with their well meaning intentions, that they are getting duped into giving away our water rights and our land and our sovereignty for absolutely no reason whatsoever, other than the “hope” that the federal government “might” give us more money. It is a major legal misstep and there is no reason whatsoever to give up our rights, our control, or our sovereignty over our land, our water, or our city for that matter.

WHERE WE THINK THIS MIGHT END UP GOING

We are already in the fight of our lives to preserve this country. We see a possibility that we will be the center of National News for weeks as the biggest political fight this country has seen since the Bundy Ranch incident in Nevada if this is rammed down our throats against our will.

I also believe the opposition on this is probably going to have the support of the State Legislator, the County Sheriff, the Governor and thousands of people willing to fight this thing to the death, literally.

Monument land grabFrom what I gather no city has ever been landlocked inside a National Monument. We would be the very first.

I like the idea of us being first and being visionaries and pioneers, but pioneering the worst thing for the People, for the City of Sedona, and for the Rights of the Individual(s) living in our community is not something I want to be a part of. Especially not something that may take away the Rights of our children or our grandchildren.

WHY THE RIGHT IS SO UPSET

Bringing this back to basic Civics 101: In a pure Democracy the 51% get to decide the way things are going to be and the other 49% have to deal with it. In a Constitutional Republic (especially ours with the Bill of Rights), no matter what the 51% think the 49% still have certain rights that cannot and will not be infringed upon.

We are a Republic and this issue is one of those issues where the 49% does not care what the 51% thinks. They will lay their life on the line to not have their rights infringed upon.

That’s what this issue is. That’s why the Right is so furious. If 51% think they can impose taking away the right to the land and water of all of us, the 49% will fight this to the end.

OUR FOUNDING FATHERS

white houseExcuse me for making this somewhat longer than it maybe needed to be, but I think it’s important to cite our founding fathers here so you can see that we are not alone in our thinking regarding this:

“A Democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” – THOMAS JEFFERSON

“Remember, Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a Democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” – JOHN ADAMS

“We are a Republican Government. Real liberty is never found in despotism or in the extremes of Democracy.” –ALEXANDER HAMILTON

At the first inaugural address to the United States under the first President ever, on April 30, 1789, he said that he would dedicate himself to “the preservation … of the Republican model of government.” – GEORGE WASHINGTON

“Hence it is that such Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention: have ever been found incompatible with personal security of rights of property: and have in general been as short lived in their duration as they have been violent in their Deaths.” – JAMES MADISON

CONCLUSION: I ASK FOR YOUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

This issue is symbolic of the wrong direction we’re headed in overall as a nation, where big government just keeps getting bigger and bigger and people keep giving up more and more of their Inalienable Rights to the 51%.

I strongly recommend, no matter what you think about it to vote NO if a vote is called for the City to take a position this matter.

Actually, I’m asking a little more than that. I’m asking you to vote NO and fight it all the way to the end to stop it if the President does sign an Executive Order for it.

You take a Pledge before every City Council meeting. There is a reason for that Pledge.

“…and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.”

volunteer handsWhat that means to me is you have a duty to protect the RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY (the 49%) despite what your personal opinion is on this matter, or what the 51% think.

It is unjust for anyone to impose giving up our Rights for our land, water, or our city. If one person is harmed in this act it is wrong, if a multitude are it is a tragedy.

No matter what your belief is, thousands of us believe our rights are being violated and we will feel deeply, deeply harmed regardless of what you or 51% think. No matter what the consensus is injustice will occur, a minority will be harmed, and I ask you to exercise the sole purpose of government: PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY FROM THE MAJORITY, when the two are in conflict with one another.

I personally will be standing with our Governor, the Sheriff, and our State Legislators, along with anyone else who has to the courage to stand up to the Federal government against this if this is implement against our will.

I have pledged my allegiance to the REPUBLIC. I am humbly asking you to do the same, no matter what your opinion is.

Sincerely,

Brian Wentzel
Owner/Co-Founder of GoneGreen.org
& 33 Year Resident of Sedona

Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!

Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!

12 Comments

  1. magickj says:

    No, Marc. I don’t think you do “get it.”

    This National Monument ploy has been playing again and again all over the western US – it is the Treasured Landscapes Initiative.

    First they create a National Monument, then they buy up private property. This designation is bad. Very bad for those of us who do not wish to sleep every night with one eye open waiting for the Federal government to grab property and water rights – coming like a thief in the night.

    http://www.defendruralamerica.com/files/SalazarAgenda.pdf

  2. LindaCarroll says:

    you spoke at council meeting/ how about link? @mark you better get it bcuz it’s NOT okay!

  3. Mr. Wentzel, I suggested that J. Rick Normand get in front of JCSVV to have a discussion about this National Monument issue, not to be pushy it might be a good idea if you speak up too, it’s nonpartisan. Both of you have interesting perspectives to share.Many like me don’t understand what’s not great about being a recognized tourist attraction like the Grand Canyon.

  4. magickj says:

    Ah gee Karen, you don’t get out much do you?
    I just came back from town and the place is crawling with tourist. We ALREADY ARE a recognized tourist attraction! Two years ago when Obama shut down all National Parks and National Monuments, Sedona experienced booming business. The government is now 439 Billion short. We’ll see in two weeks if they pull the same stunt again — and if Sedona were a National Monument, we’d be shut down as well. Is that what you want for Sedona? And can you show where the Forest Service is failing to protect our Red Rocks? You DO know we’re under the protection of Amendment 12, right? KSB says nothing will change, and maybe on the surface that is true, but behind the scenes the Federal government will continue private property and water grabs and fees will skyrocket to make up for the people displaced by “rationalization.” Wake up! http://www.landrights.org/

  5. Darryl Z says:

    @Karen, Sedona – Be careful what you wish for. As it has been pointed out, there’s no money in the Federal budget for all the promises that KSB is making. The only way the government could foot the bill for administering Sedona’s public lands would be to raise taxes or sell or lease large expanses to developers and other private interests, including oil, gas, timber and mining companies.

    This would also result in a proliferation of locked gates and no-trespassing signs in places that have been open to the public and used for generations. This would devastate outdoor traditions like hunting, camping and fishing that are among the pillars of Arizona culture and Verde Valley’s thriving outdoor recreation economy.

  6. QUESTIONS? says:

    Isn’t the forest service in the process or recently finished modifying amendment 12?
    Q: Who, besides KSB, knows if we are still as protected as we were back before “IMPROVEMENTS” were made?

    http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5420017.pdf
    http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3849805.pdf

  7. Phil says:

    go to http://www.arizonaliberty.us/ today and order a Tee shirt saying where you stand ! And get a bumper sticker for you and your neighbors !

  8. The public is invited to attend the SEDONA VERDE VALLEY RED ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT DESIGNATION meeting in Cornville, AZ. Arizona Liberty will make a formal presentation at the open meeting of the governing body of Cornville on October 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Cottonwood Oak Creek School gymnasium. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the unintended consequences of the proposed 160,000 acre National Monument designation proposed by a Sedona group and how it will affect the residents of the Verde Valley. The school is located at the intersection of South El Rancho Benita Road and East Purple Sage Road, off of Page Springs Road, Cornville. Visit http://www.arizonaliberty.us for more information and use search words “national monument” to read articles on this website.

  9. Roger says:

    listen Tom O sent another plea for $$$$ & no where does it mention party affiliation except bashes Republicans !!!!!! He smacks them like moles!!!!!! Didn’t donate because I’m not affiliated with any damn bloodsucking party but don’t be smacking hands that fed you Tom O. You wouldn’t have a visible name if it wasn’t for the republicans. don t like dirty politics because you’re a democrat & don’t want people to know!!!!! WRONG. Goes to character. Lack thereof.

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