Notes:

Paragon Foundation http://www.paragonfoundation.org/ met with Otero County Commissioners for just over two hours 1/25/11. Those present were Chairman Rardin, who called for the meeting, Commissioners Flores and Herrell, Sheriff Benny House, Danny Martinez, GB Oliver III, Bobby Jones, Mr. Dugger, Jean and Lou Schafer, Johnny Oliver and Janet White.

After introductions, Danny Martinez gave the commissioners an overview of the law and Otero County in regard to land use. Danny touched on the Antiquities Act guidelines used by Executive Order to create National Monuments (Clinton's Escalante/Grand Staircase and rumored Otero Mesa). I took good notes but will defer to Otero County Commission and Paragon Foundation.

TWO THUMBS UP.

We told you so and made the effort to put protections in place for Otero County residents via an ordinance. We are vindicated by this interview. Some people call it redistribution. I call it theft.

UN IPCC Official Admits 'We Redistribute World's Wealth By Climate Policy'

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/11/18/un-ipcc-official-we-redistribute-worlds-wealth-climate-policy#ixzz15kAmA6ck

This summer the Otero County Commission passed an ordinance, 10-07 Verifiable Science. http://www.co.otero.nm.us/

The original version was rejected by Commissioner Moore as having too strong language. It was toned down to be acceptable.

Bottom line is that now Otero County has a valuable tool to reject any proposal whose science is not verifiable. Think: designation of Otero Mesa as a National Monument, FEMA County Flood Ordinance (watch Tularosa on this one), continued threats to list Checkerspot Butterfly, recycling "hubs and spokes" initially financed by Stimulus Funds, predator management and just about any other issue before the commissioners.

I bring this to your attention so that you know there is a way to maintain and protect our customs and culture, using our intellectual and natural resources in a beneficial and sustainable manner.

We have the U.S. Constitution, the New Mexico Constitution and now the Verifiable Science Ordinance. When you have or create fire breaks, use them. The alternative is to watch your county smothered under regulations, executive orders, corruption and incompetence.

New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) held a public meeting at the Tays Center on Saturday evening billed as an Economics Forum. Only one of the panel, Robert Curran, a sportsman, was local. Although NMWF refused to take a position on Otero Mesa becoming a National Monument with the stroke of the presidential pen, NMWF did admit that it supports Wilderness designation for the Organ Mountains.

Since we have pristine grasslands worthy of consideration for National Monument status, how did the grasslands survive under BLM and ranchers' care and now need another level of bureaucracy, the NPS, for protection? This defies even basic common sense.

I could go on and cite a number of facts that could not be rebutted at the meeting, such as nearly 45 years of decline in visitation at White Sands National Monument, something that even ecotourists can not cure.

But, I would rather refer you to a very interesting article by Walter E. Williams entitled "Profit vs. Nonprofit": http://patriotpost.us/opinion/walter-e-williams/2010/09/22/profit-versus-nonprofit/

Also, a favorite tool of mine to find out where organizations get their money is Quidestar where you can read their IRS 990's - always enlightening. http://www2.guidestar.org/

Also, Activest Cash is good for making the connections between large and small nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). http://activistcash.com/index_foundations.cfm

We here in Otero County have a much greater interest in preserving Otero Mesa than anyone else. It is our home. All the promises in the world of money and ecotourists falling from the sky will not change the facts. Let's deal with reality.