— from David Turnoy —
Recently Rhea Miller of Lopez Island wrote a guest column in The Sounder which also appeared in Orcas Issues. In this column she spoke of the growing effort of the military to operate in our communities and the promotion of this idea by the Washington state Commerce Department.
The concern is that the military may be able to take over land-use planning, leaving no room for local wants or needs. Several bills to this effect have been introduced in our legislature, often supported by Democrats (who tout jobs) as well as Republicans. Luckily, so far, none has passed. We need to nip this in the bud.
You can help by copying and pasting my letter below into the first slot on the form found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CompatibilityInputForm, which will go to the state Commerce Department. Should you want to look at the guidebook for civilian-military compatibility, that can be found at ww.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/growth-management/growth-management-topics/military-base-land-use/.
Here is the letter to paste in:
I am concerned about the Growth Management Civilian Military Compatibility Guide. The guidebook lays out what is needed to attract more military activity to Washington state. This guidebook impacts communities beyond the actual location of military bases. Military operations may take place anywhere within reach of the base, impacting those communities outside of the base’s location. These communities need to have a voice regarding the impacts. Currently, most communities are not even aware of this guide.
Based on the guide, recent bills have been introduced to the WA legislature that would put the military in charge of land use planning, overriding any input from citizens about what they want in their communities. There would be no way to hold the military accountable for any impact from its operations, basically giving the military a blank check. This is a taking of local rights and is forbidden by the state constitution and by the 5th Amendment. Luckily, so far these bills have all been defeated.
However, as the guidebook is further promoted, there will be more such bills introduced. It is thought that adding military activities adds jobs and improves the local economy. But there is no proof for this idea. In fact, an economic study from South Whidbey shows that by giving military commerce a higher priority than other commerce, it actually weakens the local economy. Washington state needs a sustainable economy based on a variety of jobs including tech, education, agriculture, tourism, outdoor recreation, and small manufacturing, not an economy based on the military.
We can appreciate and support the military without having to give up our rights as US citizens. I would prefer that efforts to promote this guidebook be abandoned.
The more diverse the workforce, the more vibrant the community; and while a military presence is a welcomed aspect of this definition, its presence shouldn’t limit a community’s ability to further enrich itself.
Given the growing technological sophistication throughout society from which the military greatly benefits, more is done with less (militarily); accordingly, the GMCMC guide should reflect a modern maturity and “require” mutual cooperation except in those rare instances when national security would be jeopardized (after a showing–not just an inexplicable unilateral ending of discussions).
We’re reminded that our very proud Military operates within and at the behest of an even prouder civilian Democracy.
More growlers? anyone?
Yes, I’m always up for a growler. Island Hopping Brewery has the best growlers around, will gladly refill anytime.
Messrs. Turnoy and Graham,
You guys are too moderate by (at least) half. Western Washington needs far fewer military jobs, bases and bearings being the most militarized and deadliest chunk of territory in the continental us.
Asking nicely, in the face of recent Navy repudiation of any accountability, is no longer going to cut it.
The growler fleet, to begin with, is a piece of pure military Keynesian PORK. Useless, but for jamming civilian communications. Freedom now means NOT carrying a cell phone.
If we are required to run our economy on pork fumes then our economy is not worth saving. As long as our politicians – such as our Congressional delegation (R. Larson DINO Hush House) hold out ‘jobs’ like a cudgel and a threat then we are wedded to an economy that is corrupt.
Joseph- I hear and see your points (as usual).
While we’ve not sat and explored more thoroughly what a more mature society would look, feel and taste like, I get the sense that we’d have a lot in common along these lines- especially the ditching the phone part (lol).
As is often the case with like-minded souls, it comes down to the “how” not the “what” and therein lies the rub.
I prefer less state intervention and less loss of personal freedoms; and while slow in coming, human progress, behaviorally—if it is to last—must be organic and natural.
What we’ve seen in Socialistic-themed solutions has been top-down imposition that forces rather than teaches. This never works with large, diverse peoples and provokes violent reaction and resistance movements seeking to undermine the monolithic State (yes, all sides can play at resistance- just change the order of the musical chairs).
This system also breeds abuse and corruption and the advent of State-backed Oligarchies.
Combining a monster like this with the mind-boggling tech changes afoot is to usher in Orwellian control and worse— not a pretty future.
Lasting change comes from within the individual human, organically—when each sees its purpose, design, futility and advantage in terms of continued survival.
Hence the absolute significance of real education and greater self awareness—therein are the seeds to grow, organically, the human society envisioned.
It’s not the what; it’s the how.