Anchoring Rights Endangered in NC?

[Boatguy30]

So I don't really mean this to be about politics, but it really can't be avoided.

In relation to the anchoring in Oriental, NC it is the TEA party backed representatives that are looking to literally tread on boaters rights at the insistence of well healed land owners. they intend to introduce state legislation to allow any city to make up it's own anchoring laws.

What gives?

[rebel heart]

Doesn't seem like a "big government" issue to me. To me it seems like the classic "If I disagree with a judge then he's an activist judge."

[scoobert]

i am not poor, or filthy rich. i don't want any government except defense and a small police force.

[Boatguy30]

I think you're missing the point. most "big government" policies don't really encroach on you life that much day to day.

But these guys that preach limited government seem to be more than happy to restrict the **** out of the average boaters daily life on a local level where it actually matters.

[zeehag]

this isnt a big vs small government thing--it is a boaters vs locals thing good luck..

[Boatguy30]

If you read the town dock stuff, they are getting the Republican legislators to change the STATE law (big gov) so any local government (small gov) can screw the boaters anyway they please (little guy)

[boatman61]

Well they had a good go at selling land for building... worked for a coupla 3 years till folk started to realise they'd be flooded out 2 years in 3...
So I guess its now the turn of boaters who live elsewhere to be harvested... its a world wide thing

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by scoobert

i am not poor, or filthy rich. i don't want any government except defense and a small police force.

You don't want the channels dredged anymore, GPS networks, buoys, passport issuance, or embassies.

Okay.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

You don't want the channels dredged anymore, GPS networks, buoys, passport issuance, or embassies.

Okay.

no. gps is dying anyway.
i can learn to use a sextant.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by scoobert

no. gps is dying anyway.
i can learn to use a sextant.

Who do you think makes the almanacs you'll be using?

[Wrong]

It's called politics. Political special interest groups who make the most noise get the most attention. Of course, superior access to elected and or appointed decision makers due to wealth or knowing 'the right people' is a distinct advantage too (think Super Pacs).

The reason boaters more often than not come up losers when pending policy decisions are under review, is because they don't make enough noise. The other reason is boaters comfortably esconced in marinas generally disagree with anchor outs, live aboards and low budget cruisers. Follow the money. Everyone with a marina slip isn't financially well off, but a decent proportion of them are.

It's all about who gets the cookies. Doesn't take much to realize in America at least, who usually wins. They're not the homeless, unemployed, veterans, women and minorities.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Who do you think makes the almanacs you'll be using?

not needed. thru a global internet system sailors would share data, including depth charts.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

So I don't really mean this to be about politics, but it really can't be avoided.

In relation to the anchoring in Oriental, NC it is the TEA party backed representatives that are looking to literally tread on boaters rights at the insistence of well healed land owners. they intend to introduce state legislation to allow any city to make up it's own anchoring laws.

What gives?

(wow - we're really looking for something to get nasty about! So maybe it's wasn't climate change per se, it's just that we're bored and want to have a fight about something )

zeehag has it right.

Though I have no love for the usual small-government zealot, I suspect that the issue is simply a typical city thing, where the taxpayers of a city (Dem or GOP) want more control over their environs.

There's two extremes to this problem: on one extreme - any thing that floats can be anchored anywhere, and on the other, the city has 100% control over who anchors where and for how long.

The solution is in the middle somewhere, where genuine responsible liveaboards have a place to anchor, and are taxed fairly for the privilege and for local amenities they use, yet there's still places and incentives for the transient cruiser to drop in for a night or two.

Besides, the usual small gov't type simply wants to pull the ladder up now that they've got theirs.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Efraim

My god - you don't waste much of your time thinking do you?

People are sssooo worried about losing the government.
We are human, we will adapt.
Some are scared on the first day of school,
But you survived, even without mommy wiping your nose.
The government as we know it is doomed to fail.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

If you read the town dock stuff, they are getting the Republican legislators to change the STATE law (big gov) so any local government (small gov) can screw the boaters anyway they please (little guy)

I guess you don't know much about NC politics. The R/D divide there makes the one in Washington look like a good old boys club. NC has a republican governor and legislature for the first time since the Civil War and revenge is hell. If you want something done you had better ask a republican, because no matter how good the idea or necessary the item, if it comes from a Democrat it won't see the light of day.

The other thing to remember is this is a republic, and legislators are selected by voters. One boat is french boat, no voters, Gothvanhellsing doesn't have a physical address, can't vote, the other boat, unknown. Town of Oriental, lots of voters. Any Questions?