Op-ed: Citizen says Northwood government intruding into people’s lives

Op-ed from Leo Hendrick, Northwood, Iowa –

“Woe, woe, woe” as one of our city “leaders” likes to say, is right. The last council meeting had a list of governmental intrusions into ones life. Are you affected? Will you be forced to change your life now because of this gang of six?

What are these intrusions you’re probably asking? Well, let’s start!

Let’s start with the one which has already affected some of the residents of Northwood, the rental inspection program. At the August 18th meeting a gentleman (tenant) was there who has already been financially affected by this program. He told the room full of citizens and council members how he had to pay for the inspection. It was not to my surprise the council couldn’t believe something like this could happen. Well, this is what happens when government gets involved in private business. In this case the landlord passed the cost of government inspection to his customer and will most likely pass any other costs onto the tenant in the from of higher rent. Also, there are now landowners who are unwilling to rent out places to live because of this intrusion. Does this affect you? Do you care? Will you do something?

Now, on to your front yard. Do you have something in your yard the council doesn’t like? To be more specific: campers. They now want to tell you what you can and cannot use your own yard for, again. Now I will agree, I personally don’t like seeing big campers in yards, but it’s your yard. Who am I to tell you what to do with your own property? What’s next gardens, Christmas decorations, tall grass, or maybe it’s something in your front yard right now? Does this affect you? Do you care? Will you do something?

Onto buying private property with your tax dollars. The housing buyback program has yet to be finalized and is already plagued with problems. Now there are landowners wanting the city to buy their vacant lots because they can’t sell them.

One of the council members was quick to pass the blame to citizens. Now why would anyone buy a lot at full price when you can wait and get it at a reduced price from the city? To me it only makes sense to wait until the city starts selling or auctioning off lots at a $1. But wait. Isn’t the WCDA funding this? Well yes they are. But the council is already discussing coming up with a new program to spend your tax dollars to buy these vacant lots and sell them at a loss. Does this affect you? Do you care? Will you do something?

And last but not least, horse poop. Well the first reading of this new ordinance was voted on without even being read. So no one in the room at the time could know what it says and was passed with very little discussion. To my surprise the second and third reading was not waved. Normally something of this nature gets rammed though as quickly as possible so those who may be affected by it have no time to voice their concerns. The council is all worried about your health, which is why they have to make this new ordinance. Ok then let’s stop the chemical spraying of crops near town, chemical spraying of bugs in town, the poisoning of our water with fluoride, and so on. They didn’t even invite those whom it will affect the most: our Amish Brothers and Sisters who are part of this community.

Does this affect you? Do you care? Will you do something?

If the government can tell you what you can and cannot do within the privacy of your own home or property, whether it relates to whom you let live on your property or what you have in your yard, you no longer have any rights whatsoever.

If government officials can fine and arrest you for growing food in your front yard, or how you go about your daily activities, you’re no longer the owner of your property. If the government can steel your property and tell you what you can and can’t do on your property, your property is no longer private. It belongs to the government. This is what a world of government intrusion looks like, where the lines of private and public property have been so blurred that private property, your property, is reduced to nothing more than something the government uses to control, manipulate, and harass you to suit its own needs. Then you the property owner and citizen are reduced to nothing more than a slave in bondage to an inflexible master.

If we can’t rein in this tyranny and oppression at the local level, what makes you think we can stop it at a state or federal one? We need to stand up and help our neighbors even if we don’t agree with their lifestyles. Because if we don’t no one will be there for you when it does affect you. And sooner or later it will.

Does this affect you? Do you care? Will you do something?

Do you know what’s going on in your local government?