[Vision2020] Zoning Law & Freewheeling Capitalism: Adamson Challenges Otter

[Ted Moffett]

Tom et. al.

These proposed "tax exempt free enterprise zones" reminds me that I
discovered that Houston, Texas has no zoning laws, unless there has been a
change recently.  A different subject, I know, but related to the principle
of promoting less government regulation of business.  Here are two web links
to info on Houston that mention the absence of zoning laws:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_n9_v25/ai_15143280

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761553195/Houston.html

With my cynical absurdist realist (what is this?) mindset in gear, consider
the following suggestions:

With the apparent lack of enforcement of Moscow's zoning codes, why not
abandon them?  So what if downtown turns into a Trinitarian Village
dominated by NSA?  We could look at it like some big cities look at
"Chinatown," a place for tourists to gawk and shop surrounded by the
different life of another culture.  We could advertise this as a draw for
the tourist industry.  Moscow needs some sort of new economic model, don't
you think?  The sprawl malls spreading on the outskirts far away
from Moscow's city center will soon dominate economic activity anyway,
unless big money/big corporate power can be fought.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not a proponent of fundamentalist religion, in case
you haven't noticed, and I'm on the fringe of opinion on growth, insofar as
I am tend to favor zero growth, or very slow environmentally (i. e. not
dependent on increasing fossil fuel consumption) friendly highly managed
growth, but the writing is on the wall.

Big corporate power can push little Moscow, Idaho around with ease.  And
though Moscow has a core of progressive environmentally minded people who
wish to see capitalism and growth regulated to protect the quality and
values of small town life, this group faces serious local opposition.

The growth in population will fuel an increasing mentality that does not
even know about or care about what is being lost, when people with money
move to the Palouse from much much bigger uglier cities, who will think that
the older locals who complain about too much unmanaged or ugly development
compromising the quality of life, are so quaint.

Money talks and bullshit walks!

I trust this little somewhat tongue in cheek spiel is understood not as
advocacy of these possibilities, but rather as a hard cold look at the
reality of the powers that be in the world we live in, and how they might
overwhelm our area.

Now, I'm retreating to my flame proof bomb shelter...

I don't think what I just wrote will be the most popular post of the week.

Ted Moffett

On 1/8/06, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>  From today's (January 8, 2006) Spokesman Review –
>
>
>
> "One of his ideas is to establish tax exempt free-enterprise zones in the
> state. The 1,280-acre zones, theoretically located in Bannock, Elmore,
> Canyon and Nez Perce counties, would be exempt from federal and state income
> taxes for seven years."
>
>
>
> Good-bye, tax base.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Adamson challenges Otter
>
> Governor hopeful says his ideas 'would really shock the state'
>
>
>
> Associated Press
>
> January 8, 2006
>
>
>
> CHUBBUCK, Idaho – A Chubbuck businessman who ran for Congress twice in the
> 1980s is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Butch Otter to be the next
> governor of Idaho.
>
>
>
> Dan Adamson announced Friday that he'll be seeking the Republican
> nomination for governor, the Idaho State Journal newspaper in Pocatello
> reported.
>
>
>
> Adamson, who contends the state needs more visionary thinkers, offered a
> few of his own, such as shipping Idaho inmates overseas and creating four
> tax-exempt business zones.
>
>
>
> "We're talking about some things that would really shock the state," he
> said at a news conference. "My ideas that aren't possible are really quite
> doable."
>
>
>
> Otter is considered the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, but Adamson
> said he isn't intimidated.
>
>
>
> "Butch is a nice guy ... but he hasn't had an original thought since he
> made the decision to marry Gay" Simplot, he said. "Butch Otter has never had
> runaway election results, ever."
>
>
>
> As for the financial aspects of his challenge, Adamson said he will raise
> campaign money through his Web site, www.myidahorocks.com.
>
>
>
> Adamson, a native Idahoan and graduate of the Brigham Young University Law
> School, is the CEO of Northwest Bec-Corp., a company that manages nursing
> homes in Idaho, California and Oregon. According to his Web site, Adamson
> has also owned two law firms and several agribusiness corporations.
>
>
>
> With his "Idaho for Idahoans" campaign, he said he wants to take advantage
> of outsourcing to spur Idaho's economy and raise money for education.
>
>
>
> One of his ideas is to establish tax exempt free-enterprise zones in the
> state. The 1,280-acre zones, theoretically located in Bannock, Elmore,
> Canyon and Nez Perce counties, would be exempt from federal and state income
> taxes for seven years.
>
>
>
> "It's being done all over the world as jobs are being taken from the U.S.,"
> Adamson said. "In my mind, it will not be long when there are many, many,
> many economic free-enterprise zones established in this country."
>
>
>
> Adamson said he can also save the state about $50 million by shipping
> Idaho's growing inmate population overseas and leasing space in Idaho
> prisons to house federal inmates.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Now, there's a scary thought: commercial tax-free zones (no state or
> federal taxes).
>
>
>
> Take care, Moscow.
>
>
>
> Tom Hansen
>
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>
>
>
> "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
> safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
> sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly used
> up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"
>
>
>
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