Angry Waikato farmers today vowed to fight Transpower to stop the power company erecting a series of huge pylons on their land. Yesterday the company confirmed it had chosen the western route between Whakamaru, west of Taupo, and Otahuhu, in south Auckland, for its proposed high-voltage transmission line featuring 430 power pylons, some 70 metres high, to improve the power supply to Auckland. Waikato Federated Farmers president Peter Buckley said farmers accepted Auckland needed the power but there were other ways of providing it and farmers were not ready to give in without a fight...
There's a lot to be said on this topic --amongst them a reminder that this outrageous abuse of property rights was delayed until after the election -- but I have nothing more to add to what I've already said: this is entirely necessary, but there is no reason it can't be done voluntarily; no reason at all except ignorance, and that as a government department bloody Transpower can't be bothered respecting property owners -- much easier for them to wield the big, bullying stick of big government.
Arseholes. I've described before one type of voluntary mechanism for ensuring a route through private property while respecting property owners:
When railroading was at its peak in 19th century America, railroads used to purchase 'options' from land-owners along their three or four preferred routes - options that would only be picked up once one of the routes became 'live' by having purchased 100% of the necessary options along that route. The Kapuni gasline that went through some years ago made use of similar undertakings.Ignorance and Big Government bullying on one side vs property rights and voluntary cooperation on the other. Little wonder that in this pathetic authoritarian backwater, bullying is the chosen option. It's always easier to use the big stick when you have big government on your side, and only igorance and apathy on the other.
Links: Farmers vow to fight power pylon plan - NZPA
Pylons v property rights - Not PC, May 5, 2005
Piling on the pylon pressure - Not PC, July 20, 2005
More Property_Rights, Energy
1 comment:
This is the pragmatism & reasonableness you demonstrate that makes my earlier point. You are absolutely right that Transpower & the government are happy to abuse state power.
that previous post of your is very distracting, but very welcome :)
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