NIMBYs are the salt of San Diego's precious earth,
what a terrific, entertaining article today, a mirthful way to start the day!
It isn't often an eminent columnist defends the indefensible, comes out in favor
of censorship, and
writes a lofty article, all while sandbagging his paper's recent editorials
(Your homeless kids 1/24/03, Moving up and City of villages
2/23/03) simultaneously.
NIMBY isn't a negative word like Bolshevik you asseverate, but in fact it is --
Bolsheviks don't
believe in private property either, remember. They passionately believe in
censoring (prohibiting)
anything "they" consider politically objectionable. Censorship is just as
applicable to the 5th
Amendment as it is to the first, only more devastating when property rights are
violated.
"NIMBYs force elected officials to judge the human impacts of growth,"
you write. By growth,
you mean people, don't you? Why not come right out with it, "the human
impacts of human beings,"
instead of pussyfooting behind a euphemism. At least a "Porsche-driving
developer" is straight
forward, doesn't pretend he's building dozens of homes for himself to live in,
but builds dreams
with back yards for other people, just like the NIMBYS own. What could be a more
innocent endeavor?
You say NIMBYs want to "protect their quality of life," when in reality they
want others to
subsidize their narcissistic way of life. If they can restrict the supply of
housing so their own
homes skyrocket 20% or 30% a year in value, even better. Be a NIMBY and get
rich by
preventing would be neighbors from owning homes next to them.
As to your "NIMBYs are the salt of this precious San Diego earth," two things.
First, NIMBYS
ignore a founding principle of this country -- the promise that those who have
made it -- won't hold back
those still striving. And second, pour some salt on a snail, better yet, on one
of the 22 snails on the
endangered species list like the Banff or Kenab ambersnail, and see the
incredible disintegrating
effect on both snails and of salt of the earth politics.
Fred Schnaubelt
Rancho Bernardo, Ca. 92128
(619) 280-2082
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