Dear Rural Landowner, government types and the news media:
 
Thank God there are still some politicians out there that still understand the principle of Federalism and state's rights and aren't blinded by environmental radicalism.  I just ran across the following declaration (see below) from the Governor of Wyoming that was absolutely relevant to our fight here in King County and Washington State.  Essentially it says that Congress is out of control with its environmental regulations and the State of Wyoming is declaring a separation of powers between the Feds and his state, based on constitutional law and court cases.  You will find it interesting, especially the part where the Governor of Wyoming declares the so-called endangered wolf a "federal dog" and is offered no protection under Wyoming Law. 
 
Further, in a letter to the Vashon Beach Comber Newspaper yesterday, I wrote the following paragraphs.  They are directly appropriate to how we got here in the first place.
 
Here's how these environmentalists work.  First they create a false declaration of an environmental "emergency" and get so-called experts to back up their call for an "emergency", so that they can justify writing more draconian ordinances and laws to solve the false emergency.  Then they lobby government to pass those laws.  Endangered Species Acts, Growth Management Acts, CAO's, and moratoriums are just a few of their weapons against us.  The process is never ending.  The are at work at this endeavor, 24/7/365.   Overt environmental protection and conservationism has become a religion and a cult.
 
So let's examine the real reason behind what these environmentalists do in back rooms and as lobbyists.  It first starts with the mindset that humans are a stain on the Earth and must be crammed into large cities at 55,000 people per square mile, in 25 story buildings, living in 800 square foot apartments and driving their bicycles to work.  (just visit the Seirra Club website)  That folks is the environmentalists view of the people vs. the Earth.  So any and all regulations and ordinances that emanate from these very narrow focus radical environmentalists is to stop all growth in any rural area, including regulating to death the poor folks who just happened to live there.  This and overt conservationism are the basis for all environmental regulation and it is shoved down our throats by a very few activists who have hijacked the legislative and judicial processes of government, while you were sleeping.  Their premise and their means for all of this is that suburban sprawl is bad and every species must be protected at any cost.  Ask yourself, for what sound, logical reasons is suburban sprawl bad?  Then ask yourself, since 99.9% of all species that ever lived on Earth are now extinct, why should we pay billions in taxes and lost freedoms for a 30-year program that essentially has not saved one single species, but has listed over 1,300 to be saved.  The reality is that the environmentalists have drummed these and other myths into our heads for so long now, that everyone believes it.  Will we one day wise up to this folly and stop it?
 
FROM THE GOVERNOR
OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
 

"Therefore, as Governor, I hereby declare:"

  1. I, as Governor, declare the Endangered Species Act is no longer in force in Wyoming. We hereby rescind our cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as applies to that act. We also invoke Title 18 Rule 54(c) of the United States Code which says "Act of Congress" is "any Act of Congress which is applicable and is in force in the District of Columbia, in Puerto Rico, in U.S. Territories, and insular possessions." Wyoming is not a part of that definition, and the ESA is an Act of Congress.

  2. As Governor I invoke Wyoming Statute Title 36 "Public Lands" Chapter 12 "State Control of Certain Land" which prohibits federal agents from operating on "public land" within Wyoming, except in National Parks and wilderness areas set up prior to 1980. This means USFWS agents cannot operate on BLM or Forest Service land to propagate and protect the wolf. I, as Governor, for my authority to do this, not only stand on Wyoming law WS 36 Ch 12, but also on the following Supreme Court ruling, which has not been overturned;

      They [the feds] cannot put their foot in a state to claim jurisdiction without its consent. No principle is more familiar than this, that, whilst a state has granted a portion of its sovereign power to the United States, it remains in the enjoyment of all the sovereignty which it has not voluntarily parted with. Pollard's Lessee v. Hagan et al., 3 How. 212 (1845) quoted in linked case.

  3. I, as Governor, declare Wyoming has not "voluntarily parted with" jurisdiction over our wildlife.

  4. I, as Governor, declare, effective immediately, any animal classified as a "predator" under Wyoming law has no protection. This specifically applies to the wolf. Wyoming statute also says that dogs harassing wildlife shall be shot. Wyoming now considers the wolf as a federal dog.

  5. I, as Governor, ask the Wyoming Legislature and our Game and Fish Department to remove the raven and magpie from the protected list under state statutes and regulations. They are allegedly protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty, but thousands of them live their whole life in Wyoming, and don't migrate. They continue to destroy our sage grouse and scavenge lion kills so rapidly that the lion can only feed on it for one day, and must make another kill, thus damaging our deer and elk herds. I, as Governor, stand on the following Supreme Court ruling in negating the Migratory Bird Treaty;

      The government of the United States, as was well observed in the argument, is one of limited powers. It can exercise authority over no subjects, except those which have been delegated to it. Congress cannot, by legislation, enlarge the federal jurisdiction, nor can it be enlarged under the treaty-making power. Mayor New Orleans v. U.S., 35 U.S. 662 (1836) The feds claim international treaty as their authority for the Endangered Species Act.

  6. I, as Governor, declare that the Court erred in ruling that the Commerce Clause gave the feds authority to interfere with our wildlife, as per the following Court ruling;

      ... the commerce clause... has always been understood as limited by its terms; and as a virtual denial of any power to interfere with the internal trade and business of the separate states. United States v. DeWitt, 76 US 41 9 Wall 4, 19 L. Ed 593

  7. I, as Governor, declare that the federal court dismissal of our lawsuit does not bind Wyoming to whatever the USFWS chooses to inflict on us, or mandate for us. I stand on the following Supreme Court ruling;

      What, then, is the extent of jurisdiction which a state possesses? We answer, without hesitation, the jurisdiction of a state is co-extensive with its territory; co-extensive with its legislative power,....The article which describes the judicial power of the United States is not intended for.... general jurisdiction... United States v. Bevans, 16 U.S. (3 Wheat.) 336 (1818)

  8. I, as Governor, observe that federal judicial power is not intended for general jurisdiction.

"In conclusion, by the authority vested in me as the Governor of the State of Wyoming, I, Dave Freudenthal, declare that Wyoming is a sovereign state which is a part of the Union of States, but has full control of its destiny, particularly regarding wildlife. We will now begin to manage our own wildlife exclusive of any federal interference."

I hope you found the Wyoming Governor's declaration of independence as enlightening and as heartening as I did.
 
Take care,
 
 
 
Ron Ewart
Fall City, WA
425 222-9482