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<DIV>"Has anyone considered that if a very successful business moved into the
NSA building the parking problems might be worse?"</DIV>
<DIV>Yes, Yes I have and while I might find it amusing in a warped sort of way
it won't make for any sort of peace and I do want some peace on the subject. I'm
tellin ya the 1912 building needs to come down. </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=starbliss@gmail.com href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com">Ted Moffett</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=thansen@moscow.com
href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</A> ; <A
title=pkraut@moscow.com href="mailto:pkraut@moscow.com">pkraut@moscow.com</A>
; <A title=deco@moscow.com href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 07, 2006 4:42
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] "Liberals"
Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Tom et. al.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>When I wrote that those who seek to allow NSA to remain in the CBD
represent a "liberal agenda," I meant that they appear to oppose the "intent"
of what the CBD is about, that is, good old fashioned free market profit
making (and tax paying) capitalism, with the possible motivation to allow a
religious institution a pass because many have a soft spot for fellow
believers, thus displaying a "religious oriented liberal agenda" that shows
favor for promoting religion over capitalism in the CBD. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Of course, some argue NSA provides a service, education, purchased with
dollars that fuel the economics of the CBD. But NSA is not open to
the public to use their "services," and the tax exemptions present another
problem, though there are other tax exempt non-profits in the CBD, as well as
private organizations that limit public use. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This whole issue is far more complicated and thorny than many wish to
admit, though I think the zoning regs. for the CBD are clear that
non-commercial higher educational institutions are not a permissible use,
and there are legitimate concerns that NSA flaunted these regs. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The current and potential size of NSA, given a tax exempt status, is
certainly cause for concern, along with the parking problems, as has been
stated repeatedly. Some cities in the USA have set limits on the number
of tax exempt institutions that can occupy certain business districts because
of the erosion of the tax base, and also mandate that tax exempt religious
institutions must provide their own parking. NSA does not own any
property near NSA where they provide much parking, as we know, unless Anselm
House has a few spots. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Pat Kraut says the parking problems will remain no matter what business
is occupying NSA's building. True, but if the NSA building was occupied
by a profit making tax paying business offering goods or services open to all
the public, the tax base would not be eroding, and the whole community
could potentially have access. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Has anyone considered that if a very successful business moved into the
NSA building the parking problems might be worse? No one thinks NSA
moving will solve Moscow's downtown parking problems. The issue is those
associated with NSA who park and take away customers from other
profit oriented businesses in the CBD struggling to survive and pay
those darned taxes. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It's no big secret why malls and Wal-Mart, etc. have huge parking
lots that seem like overkill. If someone can't park close to their
shopping destination, they will go elsewhere. How much business is lost
in the CBD because potential customers have almost guaranteed convenient
parking at the Moscow Mall, Eastside, or Wal-Mart? I wish there more
people willing to walk or bike, but these options would require a sea change
in city planning and public thinking and feeling to become realistic options.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Here are a few interesting articles that relate to
government regulation of religious institutions that reveals how complex
and varied these legal problems are, and offer some legal insights into what
we may see in court if the NSA case ends up in a legal battle: </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=15633"
target=_blank>http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=15633</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/rel_liberty/establishment/topic.aspx?topic=tax_exemptions"
target=_blank>http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/rel_liberty/establishment/topic.aspx?topic=tax_exemptions
</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=15646"
target=_blank>http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=15646</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ted Moffett<BR> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 1/6/06, <B class=gmail_sendername>Tom
Hansen</B> <<A onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target=_blank>thansen@moscow.com</A>>
wrote: </SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I tend to agree on
the most part, Mr. Moffett.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For as long as I
can remember, conservatives have fought against government influence in our
private lives.</SPAN> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ironic, isn't
it?</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tom
Hansen</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Moscow</SPAN></FONT><FONT
face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> ,
Idaho</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">"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!'" </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <A
onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com"
target=_blank>vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</A> [mailto:<A
onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com"
target=_blank>vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</A>] <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Ted Moffett<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, January 06, 2006 4:48
AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> <A
onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"
target=_blank>vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [Vision2020] "Liberals"
Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">All:</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I find
it odd in the extreme that the decision to maintain the debate about the
business focus of the CBD by the Moscow City Council and Mayor Nancy
Cheney, in the resent decision to take more time to
consider the granting of a CUP to NSA, has been labeled "liberal" and
"leftist" by some in local media. </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Are
not "leftists" and "liberals" those who take a more anti-business
stance regarding how government regulation impacts the so called "free
market," than "right wingers" and "conservatives?" </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">If NSA
could be replaced in the CBD by a free market profit making capitalist
business (NSA could simply move outside the CBD), why is this not to the
liking of those free market capitalist advocates (those who often are called
conservatives or right wingers), who ostensibly seek to promote the inherent
value of such institutions in our society? </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">It
seems in this case that the so called liberals are championing capitalism in
their critical view of NSA's activity in the CBD, while the so called
conservatives are actually taking a stance in favor of a non-profit
institution, whose goals are ostensibly not those of making a buck and
getting rich offering goods or services. Indeed, NSA is above
this sort of crass capitalism, is it not? Or am I wrong? I
might actually respect NSA in this regard, with some serious
qualifications, if indeed they serve higher goals than making a killing
worshiping the almighty dollar. But business is business, and
worshiping the almighty dollar is what the CBD is ostensibly about, I
assume. Again, am I wrong? </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Are
those who defend NSA "socialists," if they defend NSA against the pure goals
of capitalism that the CBD might be considered to embody?</SPAN>
</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
simple minded labeling of those who oppose NSA's presence in the CBD as
"liberals" or "leftists" reflects the common practice of
utilizing a polarizing linear sort of thinking in political/economic
thought, that does a disservice to a detailed critical political analysis
that recognizes the full complexity of political/economic ideology, ideology
that often does not fit the Procrustean bed that demands political opinions
must be either "left" or "right." </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This is
reflected more broadly in the current muddle headed nonsense about President
Bush being a "conservative," while he has recklessly spent half a trillion
dollars on a foolish war in Iraq with little chance of success.
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The war
in Iraq strikes me as a classic wasteful liberal boondoggle of the most
extreme sort!</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Promoting NSAs presence in the CBD also could be
deconstructed as reflective of a religious oriented liberal
agenda.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Ted
Moffett</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV></SPAN></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>