Trick or Treat? Clarke County sales tax vote Nov. 3
October 31, 2009 7 Comments
Trick or Treat time for the landowners in Clarke County will continue past Halloween. On Nov. 3 there will be voting on a special ballot to decide whether or not the city of Murray and rural Clarke County will pass a 1 percent sales tax to help pay for their share of the costs to build a lake. A lake that will mean grabbing up land which belongs to some of their long time family farmers.
In following some of the letters in the Osceola Sentinel -Tribune I find a few heartwarming “treats” which I will share here.
“One Clarke County resident said that she will note for the tax …’I’m going to vote no because I can’t live with the thought that I could possibly be taking someone’s land…So I will pay the (higher) property taxes. I can’t vote for it, I can’t.”
Some residents feel the issue of the lake “is not Murray’s problem. It never should’ve been a county issue. It should’ve stayed an Osceola issue, but you crammed it down our throat…. I think we need to stand up and say no.”
My fellow Iowans -there are some “treats” but alas, many tricks with this land grab issue, as well.
A letter writer to the paper wrote
“Do we sacrifice value and benefit for all citizens of Clarke County because of those disgruntled land owners even though we empathize with them? I think not.”
Tricks and threats are the theme of several letters. I urge you to read them all, though the term “disgruntled” should give you a clue as to the theme of the letters. To some people the desire to keep a family home or family farm is meanly called “disgruntled”. I find the term disgusting!
I will continue to watch and care about the developments of the land grab from American farmers and others. Also of interest will be the opinions about eminent domain from the candidates running for the opportunity and privilege of being elected as our next Governor.
The vote on Nov. 3 will be a signal if American taxpayers and citizens can withstand scare tactics in order to stand up for private property rights.
Seeing the potential of private land being gobbled up is very scary. And worse, it is Un-American.
Trick or Treat? Iowans need to be watching. The next land grab could be in your neighbor’s home, or worse yet, your home.
In Page County the county never expected all residents to help pay. Eventually, I believe a 28E was dropped between Clarinda and Shenandoah. But the sad fact is, these things come up before everyone knows or understands what the agreements made by elected officials will mean in cost or loss.
I hope Murray and rural Clarke county will vote NO.
Disgruntled land owners? Private ownership of land is a basic tenet to our republic.
Glad there are some residents with character who will stand up to be counted with voting NO for the tricks of those who stand to benefit from taking land from residents of their county. I say dirty tricks are at work here and hope locals see the game that is being played. And, where are the elected state officials for this county? Have they stepped up to help protect the land owners? Shame on them if they have not come to their assistance!
Eminent domain: when it comes to land the government definition of private ownership is: “If we so decide, we can force you to sell it or give it to us.” Government- issue dictionary.
Tom Shaw, you are correct…people ought to be/need to be more than simply “disgruntled” when their private property and often their livelihood is stolen from them by the government.
“Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty … The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence …” John Adams
Story County landowners – I am so sorry that the land grab virus has found you! I hope that your friends, neighbors, and other caring Story County residents will step up to support you.