This section of the website is the philosophical,
political, psychological, biological, and social argument pertaining to Land Grab. The Constitution is
a philosophy and the bill of rights are written on those philosophical principles. If this is a true
statement than Eminent Domain, Redevelopment, and Revitalization using condemnation as a tool is nothing but Corporate
Welfare and contrary to the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. The reader is invited
to discern if the above is a true or false statement.
Thank you for your interest and support. Deanna
*******
A Philosophical argument. Does
the End Justify the Means?
If the benefits are large enough, can any political decision be
justified?
The ruling by Judge Wade defended that the North Lake project
would far outweigh the razing of an entire neighborhood by benefits such as social and economic growth for entire San Bernardino.
This sort of balancing of costs against benefits has roots in
an ethical theory called Utilitarianism.
The utilitarian movement was founded in the late 18th
century by the English Philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Bentham’s central proposal was that Nature has placed mankind under
the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for pain and pleasure alone to point out what we ought to
do.
Bentham proposed designing all laws and social policies with one
goal: maximize the amount of pleasure in society, and minimize the amount of pain and show no favoritism to individuals, but
seek only to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Bentham resolved issues entirely through Reason.
The author argues that Reason in using Bentham’s theory
pertaining to the North Lake project is to try to predict the effects as far as possible, on everyone involved, now and future,
and not only human beings but also affordable homes, family businesses, and churches destroyed by the project, and try to
estimate whether the benefits will be clearly greater than the consequences. So, what will be the consequence of building
the North Lake project if we use Bentham’s utilitarian theory of Reason? If happiness is measured in social economic
terms is the North Lake project a good project for the entire City?
The author argues that the North Lake project is based
on hope opposed to history of failed projects in the downtown area and a history of neglect and crime. A plan based on
Hope is not good Reason, however, History is a good Reason to determine if the North Lake project can provide
happiness to the entire City. The drought for the past five years and San Bernardino's Leroy Well is just outside the pressure
zone at the 345 foot level. This is the lowest in history.In 1964 the voters of San Bernardino voted for the water to
stay in San Bernardino. Should we share the Bunker Hill Basin and sell our water resources to cities
in Orange County? Also, will the sharing of the Bun ker Hill Basin be beneficial
to San Bernardino's future growth in population and development?
Bentham theory of happiness is measured that would benefit the
entire City of San Bernardino. Happiness cannot be based on hope if history of failed projects produced pain for the entire
City. The project does not produce happiness on the contrary elements of pain are dominant including the outside pressure zone
at the 345 foot level which is the lowest in history. The sharing of the Bunker Hill Basin
with cities in Orange County does not produce happiness for San Bernardino because of the availability of water and the future
cost of water. The only economic benefit that the author find that produce happiness is the water district's
profits in selling water. The financial benefit is not shared by this city and the cities in the region. Further, the
water district controls all the land of the North Lake area and as a gift to the district vacate the streets
until some point in time part of the land will be used for redevelopment.
The project does not produce happiness since the water project
is plunked into an area surrounded by blighted and crime neighborhoods. The history of the City is evident that from
those neighborhoods which include many parts of the whole are blighted and failed to receive support from the City
to resolve social and economical problems. Also, the myth that we have this huge amount of extra water that we can sell to
people down stream who need it.
The evidence is clearly that a project based on hope opposed to
proven history of failed projects cause pain. Reason can be determined by history of failed projects, history of neglect,
and drought that calculates this project as a project that would produce pain opposed to happiness for the
entire City.
The Municipal water district is the only party that would
derive happiness and since the City does not share in the profits of selling the City’s water the City be deprived of
economic benefits plus indebtedness in developing the land. Also, you have been told we have this huge amount
of extra water that we can sell "to people down stream who need it." According to Harold Willis, former San Bernardino
Water Commissioner (1964-1999) Muni talked about the tree growth rings that these five years are the driest
"ever".
The overriding benefits’ argument of Judge Wade is shortsighted
because it requires that we predict the future consequences of our actions. This is difficult since history proved that prior
predictions of other projects failed and history proved the neglect that caused pain opposed to pleasure. The pain
is deepened because we for five years are the driest "ever" and we do not have the water that we are trying to get rid
off.
The second argument is the displacement of people and their
sense or morale and of importance in their lives. These projects, very often, just even in their own terms are badly calculated.
The downside is always bigger than it was thought to be and very
often the thing turns out to be a great negative. And, of course, it’s also irreversible so it’s a formula of
a social catastrophe.
What is the answer? Should one build the North Lake Project or
not? If we have to calculate its chief value would we rest on hope or history of failed projects, history of neglect, and
drought? If we have to calculate its chief values have we examined all sides and which side offers happiness to the
entire City?
The author’s argument is the City’s history including
failed projects, history of neglect including high crime, and drought are three great sides that would not
gain the entire City happiness if this project is to proceed as it is.
***
"In quietness, I feel the heart beat of an woman who must part
from her little corner of her world. I see her sitting in her garden and so many of her flowers
has grown in fitful splendor from a seed planted by her sweet frail hands. This is her paradise and she
does not understand the nature of the intruder, the land master. How can her tiny body be armored with steel to
protect herself from the tool used by the Master. I hear her whisper in fearfulness and see her eyes lit with despair trembling
pleading with the Land Master. "Oh, Land Master, how can I buy another paradise from the coins you offer? Please, I beg you let
me stay and toil with my Land." The Land Master bitter at heart Land Grab her Land and gave her life long effort producing
the fruit of her beautiful majestic garden to another."Deanna
" I see two-self consciousnessess that confront one another, the gadfly and the body
politic. The body politic and the gadfly fight, they fight to the death, or almost, because just
at the moment when the gadfly is about to die, the gadfly has a choice to submit to the body politic and
live. So, what can the gadfly do? If she submit's she will live and be a Slave and if she fights to her death
she is Free. Surely, the gadly choose not to have a relationship where the body politic is Master, and she a Slave".
Deanna
"When the relationship between humans is colored by power, it is not only the powerful who
oppress and despise those oppressed The oppressed starts to gradually see himself through the eyes of the oppressor
and will eventually start to despise himself".Deanna
********
A Bio-Psychological Argument. Does
Eminent Domain have a Traumatic Affect?
Public use is now anything a favored developer wants
to do with another individual's land. The City gives the developer an exclusive negotiating agreements or the
sole right to develop property still owned by others. The City and developer want to acquire the property as cheaply
as possible. The small property owners are then pressured to sell to the developer. If the property owners
do not want to sell, the developer will ask the City to amend their agreement to include the acquisition of the landowner's
property. The City will hold a public hearing, however, the City has already committed itself to acquire
the property for the developer, so the outcome is certain.
After the person refused to sell his or her property to a developer,
a letter will be sent saying that the developer has asked them to amend the existing agreement to include the acquisition
of his or her property. The City will then covey his or her home to the developer in exchange for a new project earning huge
profits on his or her land. This of course could take months and during this time he or she suffers from anxiety and trauma.
Now, what is the sequella of this traumatic Eminent Domain
experience? The personal loss of residence in a community has a traumatic experience that causes secondary psychiatric symptoms
such as depression, anxiety, and anger. The primary psychiatric symptom is his or her personal loss, the loss of his or her
place in the world, and the meaning of one’s interpretation of life including a world view of that interpretation. The
person may suffer from loss of appetite and disruptions in sleep including sweats and flashes. Frequently secondary psychiatric
symptoms come along with depression and anxiety some real and some not so real in respond to the body and discomfort.
The evidence is clear that there are changes in the brain for
those who experience a traumatic disorder. We are creatures that mark our territories much like other animals and where we
exist in the world is very important to us. The person’s whole frame of reference is completely disrupted and his or
her whole sense of meaning changes. This is very disruptive by the intrusion of the Government that one’s whole view
of his or her life is changed, and this is traumatic. Experiencing this traumatic event of having to leave his or her marked
territory may have a continuous adverse effect for years. A successful adaptation of a traumatic event takes some time and
years to recover from.
The coping strategy depends on the individual how he or she can
cope in processing information accurately, compartmentalization, active mastery, and guarded optimism. In some case, the coping
strategy of Eminent Domain for some is social isolation and a failure to create an alternative meaning in life. Physically
there is a discomfort and for some people the traumatic effect can have medical illness and recovery from this violent intrusive
traumatic event may never occur. The effects of chronic arousal, feeling unsafe, ambiguous information, and dis trust add
to the physical illness of body discomfort or further diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and mental illnesses. Eminent
Domain is a disease itself and as a deadly cancer attacks the organism toward traumatic disorders that manifest in various
ways.
*******
A Bio-Evolutionary Argument
Is Morality the Extension of the Social Instinct?
The view that people in the state of nature is nasty is the veneer
theory. The author finds the veneer theory flawed since humans are social and morality is essential for survival. The author's
research concluded that our ancestors possessed instincts of empathy and reciprocity and those traits are viewed as the extension
of the social instinct. Humans lie but our ancestors do not lie or pretend and observing their nature the research found evidence
that these instincts are wired in the human brain and is independent of traits passed by genes or learned from the environment.
Further, these instincts are essential for survival and since empathy and reciprocity are considered moral instincts the human
being is moral because of the extension of the social instinct. Of course, biologically we have inherited behaviors
to fend off those who aggress against us, however, empathy and reciprocity are equal in significance because of their instincts
to assure survival. Now, what has this to do with eminent domain? The law of eminent domain is a bad law because the Taking
violates empathy and reciprocity. A law that violates empathy and reciprocity is a bad law because the law is contrary to
the extension of the social instinct, organic evolution, and an overall insult to the organism.
*******
"I don't believe that government is legitimate unless it is deeply egalitarian, and
egalitarian in the sense that each citizen is an equal partner in the collective enterprise of self-government.
The profiteering of this project and unjust compensating benefits for the least advantaged members of our society is
not only corrupt but I question its legitimacy."Deanna
"As is the case with any skill, we acquire virtues by first doing virtuous acts. We acquire
skill by practicing the activities involved in the skill. For example, we become exploiters by exploiting, and we become
just by doing just acts."Deanna
**********
A Political Argument:Can a Good leader Lead in a Corrupt Society?
The argument is to inquire if it is possible to be a good leader
and lead in a corrupt Society? One of Plato’s deepest convictions about human nature is that is was impossible, or almost
impossible, to be a truly good man unless one live in a good society. A truly good man, in his view, is one who is both good
in himself and also useful to others. But in a bad society, a good man will be useless, and a useful one will be corrupt.
A man cannot be wholly good, therefore, unless his environment is also a good one.
In our present society, nobody respects knowledge and wisdom.
Politicians are respected and admired not because they are wise but because they flatter the people and satisfy the people’s
basest desires and instincts. In a society like the one in which we live a Good man cannot hope to be useful.
In a Good environment the man who is intelligent and
compassionate will flourish and become wise, but in a society like the one in which we live the more intelligent he
is, the more corrupt he is likely to become. In a corrupt society the people will flatter his intelligence and he will become
proud and vain. In these sorts of circumstances, he will use his intelligence for his own self-seeking purposes.
I do believe, however, that a Good person can be useful and teach
the value of knowledge and wisdom. Now, politics is a practical business, and a leader must above all be a practical and a experienced
person. The Good person for all his wisdom and goodness will be viewed having his head in the clouds all day, so he
hardly is a competent or efficient leader. In my view, the Good man is not merely intellectual but apart from being wise,
he is also brave and self-disciplined because he has all the other virtues of a Good man. It is possible that a Good man might
at some time gain political power and then be able to convince people of the value of his knowledge and wisdom?
The people elected are politicians who do not need qualifications
or training at all; they will be considered good leaders as long as they profess to be the friends of the people. San Bernardino
is not a single and unified City, but rather a whole collection of different personalities and is easily influenced by anyone
with whom he comes into contact. As an elected leader he will mix with people who give in to their baser desires and
impulses. The outcome of such a leader is that he will not distinguish between good and bad pleasures equally and will
do exactly as he likes and will live for the pleasure of the moment.
Leading a City requires virtues of wisdom, courage, discipline,
and whose mind is in good order. It is impossible for the way this municipality is set up to lead and use leadership to benefit
the "Good" in society. The evidence of the state of this City is the reflection of our bad leadership, a leadership
of men who do their best to please the people. Our leaders spend their time pandering to interest, so as to retain their popularity.
This, then, is the state they lead, the worst and the unhappiest of all communities.
**********
Political - Philosophical notes:.
"The relationship between citizens and government is a relationship of trust where the State is our trustee.
If the State violates its relations of trust, for instance, the State violating people’s natural rights to life and
liberty, if it tries to enslave them or take their property in a way that’s unjustified, our obligation to obey the
State is at an end, and we are entitled to criticize the State and rebel against it, when it violates its trust.
Now, if he criticize against the injustice he does not revert to his State of
Nature, but he become once again a community of people creating a government. This is his duty and a safeguard
against the oppression of the government." Deanna
"The preservation of property is the great purpose of men uniting into a community and putting themselves
under government. It is the preservation of property that he is willing to part with his freedom. In the state of nature the
enjoyment of his property was very unsafe, very insecure and he was willing to part from his freedom to obtain the protection
to preserve his life, liberties, and property.
The Law of Eminent Domain for profit has violated this protection of liberties and pursuit of happiness.
No longer is your property safe and your life is intruded by the dominion you agreed to join in society for mutual
preservation. It was for this convenience we agreed to a government to protect our interest and protect our property. The
threat of taking property by force we are faced, as we lived in the state of nature, in continual danger, is
full of fears, and we must revolt in order to safeguard against the intrusion of the control of the government we trusted."
Deanna
"I do not agree with David Hume that the very idea of government is far beyond the comprehension
of savages in the state of Nature. The life of man in the state of nature would not be as savage and short as Hume suggest,
and that the state of nature, life without government, would have inconveniences such as protecting personal property".
Deanna
********
The Historical & Occult Argument: Is the political fitness of the ruling class
Real or is it Occult Hidden by their might of exploitation? How can men and women work together to create a world
in which all people, not just the favored few, can live decent, meaningful lives?
Each day the men and women in the project area work to transform nature into the food, clothing, and shelter
they need to live. These economic activities form the foundation on which all else in the society rests.
In very early in human history some men succeed in seizing control by force of arms to take the land,
the streams, the mines, and the forest, and they prevent others from using them. Once these men have successfully asserted
ownership of the means of production, they are in a position to extract a ransom from the rest of the men and women in society.
So, two classes of people crystallize out of the social situation, the ruling class, which controls the means of production
and the underclass which are forced to give up a part of the product of its labor in order to survive. For example, pay me
half of all you grow, the landholder says to the farmer, or I will not allow you to farm the land.
The author notes that the ruling class by nature exploit, plunder, and takes by force from the underclass,
and in this case, the underclass people of the North Lake project are forced to give up a part of the product of its labor.
The exploitation by the Government is accepted in modern society to be sheer custom and familiarity confers legitimacy on
what was originally mere might. The culture and life style of the ruling class is quite different from that of the laboring
majority because they eat and drink and wear what they do not have to produce. Small wonders that even those in the underclass
soon come to believe that the rulers are "different" and fit to rule but are they psychologically fit to rule?
The laws of the land are enacted by the ruling class settling disputes of the underclass. The decisions
of the disputes have become the law of the land and the decisions rarely threaten the interest of the rulers, for they convene
the courts, they who sit on the bench, and they who enforce the orders of the courts with their cohorts. Very early in human
history some men by force of arms succeed in seizing control over the vital means of production and modern society virtually
remained unchanged throughout time because the ruling class oppresses the underclass and confer legitimacy on what was originally
mere might. It is because of the inherent nature of the ruling class the author finds the ruling class psychologically primitive
and infantile. The only transformation for the ruling class is to find out how can men and women work together to create a
world in which all people, not just a favored few, can live decent and meaningful lives.
*********
The argument: Does the Media effectively communicate the message that serve the ends of a dominant elite?
The North Lake Project is a classic example of exploitations that serve the ends of a dominant elite. The
environmental necessity for a reservoir and the tossing of the law suits by Judge Wade supports that the laws serve the ends
of a dominant elite. The evidence of razing an entire neighborhood does not support the claim of the respondents. The evidence
supported are blatant lies that a need for a reservoir is to clear high underground water and contamination. To raze an entire
neighborhood of two thousand people, forty seven-family businesses, and six churches is supported by a law that serve the
ends of a dominant elite and the political economy of the media.
The government and the media cooperate to produce an effective propaganda machine in order to manipulate the
opinions of the populous. The media serve as a system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. The
function of the media on one hand is used to amuse, entertain and inform, however, the other hand is served as a communication
system of implementing values, beliefs, and codes of behavior that will integrate the person into institutional structures
of the larger society. In a world of conflicts and mixed class interest the media is influenced to serve the ends of a dominant
elite.
The marginalization of dissidents is needed to further the needs of the elite and the media are able to convince
themselves that they interpret the news "objectively" and on the basis of professional news values.
The alternative view of the North Lake is this website to inform effectively in reinforcing class consciousness
that unifies the underclass (working class) because it fosters and alters the value system and framework established by the
media who serve the ends of a dominant elite. The potential power of the working people is encouraged by an alternative view
to effect social change and realize the value of their constitutional rights as a property owner. The effectiveness of change
is the "Law" not a revolution of aggression or bloody confrontation. The Law must not serve the ends of a dominant elite but
pursuit a just society where each member of society is recognized worthy. Revolution must not be used as violence to free
the oppression but in intelligence rethinking the letter of the Law to benefit a just society. The need is a psychological
revolution setting aside the laws that serve the ends of a dominant elite. We are well accomplished in science but our resistance
to mature in consciousness is evident that we are willing to shed blood to maintain the status quo and sell two-thousand people
for the North Lake to serve the ends of a dominant elite.
