Viewpoint: Reader perplexed with Senator Tiffany
Editor:
It is amazing and more than a little perplexing at how far Senator Tom Tiffany has strayed from the basic core principles of modern Republicanism. In particular, his political behavior has been a steady violation of the strongest plank of the party for the past half century: the need for “Law and Order” in America. He has replaced civic laws and regulations with a primacy of individualism to the extreme. He has come to stand for nothing more or less than deep pockets Anarchism.
In public response to Mr. Republican of Oneida County, Jack Sorenson, Senator Tiffany scorned all forms of regulation of individual property rights, at whatever level of government: Federal, State, or Local. All of them, to Tiffany, should be subservient to what guys like him want and when they want it. Of course, this is a definition of self-centered Anarchism, not Republicanism. In adopting it, “Order” comes to be replaced with “Disorder,” and the “Law” of the jungle overtakes commonly agreed upon regulations promulgated by elected officials, Federal, State, or Local.
The Senator has become a completely self-appointed arbiter of what may or may not be regulated. He rejected local control, and embraced the wealth of lobbyists in its place. The record shows, Tiffany worked to undermine the open disclosure of public records; he has thumbed his nose at local elected officials, including Republicans; he allowed almost no public commentary on his plan to destruct all locally mandated shoreland protections; he weaseled his scheme into the State budget amendment.
Tom Tiffany has made it clear that he cares much less what existing shoreland homeowners think, Republican or Democrat, and much more what free-wheeling developers and realtors want. It’s time to send him back to Hazelhurst, in either the primary or the general election. Bring back “Law and Order.” We may want property rights, but we also want property protections. One without the other threatens all property investment.
Elmo Roach, Pelican Lake
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