Idaho lawmakers hope to dissuade public access to judicial review of state megaload approvals by forcing them to post huge sums of money before access to court is granted.
Idaho bill targets anti-megaload lawsuits – Spokesman Review
BOISE – Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, has introduced legislation requiring anyone who files a lawsuit against a transportation project on state highways to post a bond equal to 5 percent of the value of the items being hauled, and if the plaintiffs lose the lawsuit, the whole bond would go to the Idaho Transportation Department.
Requiring potential litigants to post bonds jams up the gears of justice, making those with financial resources ‘more equal’ in their access to justice than those without wealth. Whatever one thinks about the merits of the megaload controversy, state laws that have the effect of erecting economic prohibitions on justice are not a good idea.
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“Highway 12 resident Borg Hendrickson said, “Throughout 2010, Exxon/Imperial repeatedly told Idahoans that no alternative route existed for these massive loads, but now 60 of them are being shipped from Vancouver via an alternative route and 30 more are also going to be shipped via an alternative route,” after modifications as they sit in Lewiston. “ITD’s decision needs to be based on real facts, and our petition, in effect, asks ITD to step back and get those facts.”
When things are running smooth, there is little resistance. When potential problems arise, then resistance is the result. Once those in power have lost in their attempts in trying to hide their shady business relationships and actions, then they have to try other measures. When those in power try to quell protests by such actions as those like St. Maries Rep. Dick Harwood, is attempting, that is a red flag to me about where democracy is headed.
Should they also try and shut down the internet so all their opponents “lies” can be prevented from spreading such light, and challenging threats, too? Such are the desperate actions of those in in fear of losing their power and abilities to conducti business as usual. It just perpetuates the rich get richer, while the poor get poorer phenomenon. .
The media’s reporting on this whole issue has been deplorable. Where, for example, are the mentions on who in actuality paid for the highways’ construction, much less their maintenance. This is the same glitch that anti-sprawl fighters encounter here in the East.
Isn’t that Constitutionally illegal?
I’m getting more and more steamed. At lot of these legislators are nothing but whores for the international corporations, or worse they give away our rights for free.
The multi-national corporations have loyalty to no country.
A clear case of man’s inhumanity to man.
Perhaps they have actually given it all away and are just feeding us the information slowly so we won’t all notice at once.
For those who wish to participate more in fighting corprate affairs, here is another avenue:
Join Orion Magazine’s live, free web event with iconic authors Rick Bass and David James Duncan on the Alberta tar sands and Exxon’s proposed Heavy Haul, March 1st, 5 pm Mountain Standard Time. They’ll read from their new book, The Heart of the Monster, and answer your questions.
In order to participate in the call-in/web event, please take a moment to register through Orion’s website: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=4oz1q63ceqw
I have already signed up and sent in questions. By the way, there are some really interesting stories (related to all this) in Orionagazine, at: http://WWW.ORIONMAGAZINE.ORG/INDEX.PHP/ARTICLES/ARTICLE/6052
see story: The Tyranny of Entitlement
A lesson in limits
BY DERRICK JENSEN
“Requiring potential litigants to post bonds jams up the gears of justice, making those with financial resources ‘more equal’ in their access to justice than those without wealth”
Actually I think it makes projects such as these unassailable by regular folks. The concentration of power and wealth are transforming the country from a democratic society into a feudal one.