Today I had read an article that made me think- How often are the laws we enact counterproductive to the root of the problem they are trying to solve? This made me think of a perfect example in my own area. I want to share a humorous story from my area that sums up this point. The Kangaroo Rat (K-rat) is an endangered mouse in my region of California. About 10 years ago the only way to get a permit to build anything on your property was to hire an environmental K-rat study and pass. It frustrated developers and homeowners to no end. So this guy in my area decided to try and build a detached garage on his property. As he applied for permits the County insisted he pay for a K-rat test. The environmental person comes out, does their test, and concludes there is sufficient evidence of K-rat on the property. The man is denied his permit to build a detached garage because he is not allowed to disturb an area where a K-rat lives. So the guy is frustrated and asks the environmentalist how he can get rid of the K-rat so he can build his garage. The homeowner was blatantly told that there is nothing he could legally do and that any attempt to disrupt the habitat of the K-rat would involve legal penalties. This displeased the homeowner very much. So he researches this K-rat and discovers that constrictor snakes like to dine on them. He fences his lot (no permit needed) and lets loose a large number of constrictor snakes on his fenced property- this is perfectly legal. About 6 months later the homeowner again applies for a permit to build a detached garage and he was informed an environmental test for the K-rat would again need to be conducted. The environmentalist came out again and after a thorough test he was unable to find evidence of a K-rat; he passed the homeowner and the detached garage was built. The homeowner did nothing illegal. This is a true story. Had the county simply allowed the detached garage to be built the guy would not have had to kill off the entire population of K-rats on his land. How often are the laws we enact counterproductive to the root of the problem? A few years ago a politician (and I dont know which one) decided to tackle the root of this problem and California actually purchased land or took government land and turned it into a preserve for the K-rat so that people could develop without fear of endangering the K-rat. Problem solved. Yesterday Governor Christie vetoed a bill that would reduce the number of bullets allowable in a magazine from 15 to 10. He was quick to point out that this legislation does nothing to cure the root of the problem. He stated: “This is the very embodiment of reform in name only. It simply defies common sense to believe that imposing a new and entirely arbitrary number of bullets that can be lawfully loaded into a firearm will somehow eradicate, or even reduce, future instances of mass violence,” Christie said. “Nor is it sufficient to claim that a ten-round capacity might spare an eleventh victim.” Christie then went on to say that he is funding programs which provide help for those with mental illness. The mass shooting was the result of a kid who had an untreated mental illness. Now I am not trying to show political support for Christie, I am simply using this as one positive example to prove my point. I have no idea about how he governs or other his other policies which I may not agree with. I think more and more we need to look at these politicians and ask the question- are they really trying to solve the root of a problem or are they trying to just cause a loud media stir? We see so many examples: Hobby Lobby- this case does nothing to solve the root of the problem. Immigration- the root of the problem consists of current legislation which, in effect, invites illegal immigration. I am looking to vote for politicians who are not scared to tackle the root of the problems our country is facing. On this 4th of July I reflect on the group of men who made tough choices to solve the root of the problems that our new country faced.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 04:13:54 +0000
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