Land grab by executive order, maybe

Early on Barrack Obama made his contempt of those Americans who "cling to their guns and bibles"  as well as those who drive pick up trucks, in other words, the citizens of rural America, well known  Now he wants to be their big bother, best friend and advisor.  I guess being Harvard educated he knows more about the woods and farming than they do.  To show how happy he is to take on his new role, he signed Executive Order 13575,  Establishment of the White House Rural Council.  I started hearing about this a few days ago, the president signed the order while the country was being weinered and except for Casey Anthony, not much else was in the news.  The langauge in the order sounds innocent enough on the surface,

 Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American population lives in rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural communities are essential to winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness in the years ahead. These communities supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they also present enormous economic potential. The Federal Government has an important role to play in order to expand access to the capital necessary for economic growth, promote innovation, improve access to health care and education, and expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.

To enhance the Federal Government's efforts to address the needs of rural America, this order establishes a council to better coordinate Federal programs and maximize the impact of Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in our rural communities

But it brings to mind Ronald Reagan's scariest words in the English language, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"  That phrase is even truer when nobody asked for the help.  As fas as I know, no one has, and government seldom volunteers their services without strings attached, like the red light windshield washers in the big cities they provide, (or muck up) a service you didn't want, need or ask for and expect something in return. Rural America has always been able to keep us well supplied with food, without a city guy from Chicago telling them how to do it. The order talks about expanding educational opportunities and healtcare, the days Dog Patch USA typified rural America are long gone..In most cases the schools are a lot better and safer than the one in Washington DC. For a long time I lived in a place where it was about 12 miles down hill to the nearest town with a Grocery Store and all the doctors the area needed.

This isn't today's  Rural America

He talks about expanding recreational facilities on public land. He can do that all he wants, on land the Federal Government already owns. The department of the interior has been doing it for year. Even if the Department of Homeland Security hasn't been able to keep the facilities near the Mexican Border safe for Americans to use.

Moving farther down the Executive order, in section 3 we find the President has included several of his czars to the council well as whatever Non Government Agencies and Organizations he deems appropriate.  I'm not exactly sure what part Defense, Homeland Security and the Justice department have in conservation ot economic development, but they could play a role in allowing the Government to acquiring land and regulating land use. With or without agreement from the owners or local government.. His involving Non Government agencies and organizations disturbs me, Think ACORN..

That brings us to Section 4..

Sec. 4. Mission and Function of the Council. The Council shall work across executive departments, agencies, and offices to coordinate development of policy recommendations to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in rural America, and shall coordinate my Administration's engagement with rural communities. The Council shall:


(a) make recommendations to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the National Economic Council, on streamlining and leveraging Federal investments in rural areas, where appropriate, to increase the impact of Federal dollars and create economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural America;


(b) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of Federal engagement with rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, education and training institutions, health-care providers, telecommunications services providers, research and land grant institutions, law enforcement, State, local, and tribal governments, and nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural America;


(c) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the growth and development of geographic regions that encompass both urban and rural areas; and


(d) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities associated with energy development, outdoor recreation, and other conservation related activities.

Seems to me the Department of the Interior is already supposed to be doing everything in the Section 4 outline. So what do we need a Special Council for? I think that's the reason many people are upset. If I substitute the word agenda for engagement in the the phrase

" and shall coordinate my Administration's engagement with rural communities"

I can see why so many are concerned. This Administration has done almost nothing except over reach and try to push the limits of the Federal Government well beyond anything intended in the Constitution. That can be seen in Obamacare, the legal battles he's started with state and local government that don't blindly accept his decrees, Education and Libya. He routinely has the EPA, Dept of Ed and others use regulatory authority to try and circumvent the Congress.

For those reasons and the fact it's a duplication of what the Department of the Interior is already supposed to be doing, I wonder what his real motives are, I don't trust politicans in general, I distrust Barack Obama more than most. Someone in a position of authority should ask questions. Regardless of where the funding comes from it will cost money fot the Council to operate. Money is somthing we don't have, especially if it's for him to presue his personal agenda or duplication of something we're already paying for.