Regulations

Chuck took me to visit two small villages near his home while I was staying with him. First we drove to Clifton, and later in the day to Occoquan. Both of these small towns are classic "historic" places. In general, when you see something like that advertised, it generally just means a depressed downtown area emptied out by the competition from big-box stores and a fled citizenry. In the case of both of these places, however, there is truth to the adjective utilisation of "historic".


While none of the structures in Clifton and Occoquan are genuinely ancient (by Old World standards), there are lots of houses and buildings of sufficient age to qualify for that term here in the USA. Many of the structures we saw as we strolled along were Civil War era, and some predated even that conflict.



The key thing in these two small townships is that there are strict regulations limiting what can be moved, torn down, or built up. The people who live in these places want them to retain a certain atmosphere.

To preserve that architectural and geographic tradition, one has to have solid and strict laws in place to enforce. And both Clifton and Occoquan are great examples of what can be accomplished by regulating growth and industry.



This country has been far too obsessed with rampant growth to embrace rational regulations. The greedy have risen up and spun their propaganda machines to the point where the very word "regulation" has become something of a profanity.

But as anyone can see, we need regulations. Without them, we get ceaseless urban sprawl. Without them, we are shown the rape of the landscape. By Jove, it's time to bring them back, and to enforce them. Let's dance on Reagan's grave. Let's place a urinal over his diseased corpse; one which trickles down to his vacant, gaping mouth.
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