Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking.
A civil conspiracy or collusion is an agreement between two or more parties to deprive a third party of legal rights or deceive a third party to obtain an illegal objective.
Wasa Lake has a group of people with an agenda.
Group - Leisure (retired, not employed, rich), People Around Wasa Lake (capitalized from now on).Agenda - "Golden Pond, Peace, Quiet, Serenity" (easy sell).
Method of Control - be source of data for media and government.
Goals & Tactics
- Close School (families are less likely to settle in Wasa, more absentee owners).
- Make it difficult for absentee owners to participate in Democratic Process
- Restrict flow of information or filter information
- Time public meetings as to be inconvenient.
- Target weak opponents or undesirables and attack them. (slowly and quietly)
- Small businesses (almost all gone)
- Anyone not with the Group.
- Kill Tourism
- Close or Restrict Public Access
- Close or Restrict Public Services
- Misinform the Media
- "Authorise" Hot Head treatment of tourists
- Encourage negative incidents and twist results.
- Fear
- Fear of vandalism
- Fear of loss of business revenue
- Fear of being social outcast
- Fear of becoming a target.
It is most likely that the members of the "Group" are just pawns. They don't cognitively realize what is happening. They start out just agreeing with small "agreeable" concepts. BUT, once you start to agree with a group you start to "belong" and now you are less likely to disagree for fear of being outcast. How do you think "Fundamentalist" groups gain power and end up with a large following to an agenda, they may not have agreed with, if it had been laid out in advance.
"Show Me Evidence"
I am not going to. Find your own. It is easy. Read the public documents. Take any event from the last 10 years and look at the "Process" and the "Results". Draw your own conclusions, just look to see if the final outcome supported the "Agenda".
Walk or paddle around the lake. Notice who has a "Privilege" (Hint, find the only public road that accesses the lake, that is restricted to the public. Do a public activity at that location, watch the Wasa SWAT team strike, take photos, write post, fix your slashed tires).
Walk or paddle around the lake. Notice who has a "Privilege" (Hint, find the only public road that accesses the lake, that is restricted to the public. Do a public activity at that location, watch the Wasa SWAT team strike, take photos, write post, fix your slashed tires).
"You're Crazy"
Groups work this way. They did it in high school (what would you do to be popular, or at least maintain your pecking order?). They do it in office politics. They did it for Hitler. Muslims are being overrun by it. Pick any scale, of any group and study the dynamics and the outcomes. This is the way it works. The law and our democratic processes are the only defence.
The public is an extremely easy target. Most people are too busy with earning a living and/or raising a family to participate in anything retarded. And most issues are irrelevant to most people. For example, golf. Golf is very popular, but the participants are still a minority. Worse for power boaters. They are a tiny minority and easy to hate because a lot of people already hate noise, pollution, bad drivers etc. Or maybe they are just envious because power boating is expensive and many water-sports are physically too challenging (and you are fat! Hey, I lost 40 lbs this winter. Now I could water-ski, but you still have to get wet.).
The public is an extremely easy target. Most people are too busy with earning a living and/or raising a family to participate in anything retarded. And most issues are irrelevant to most people. For example, golf. Golf is very popular, but the participants are still a minority. Worse for power boaters. They are a tiny minority and easy to hate because a lot of people already hate noise, pollution, bad drivers etc. Or maybe they are just envious because power boating is expensive and many water-sports are physically too challenging (and you are fat! Hey, I lost 40 lbs this winter. Now I could water-ski, but you still have to get wet.).
My Position
I love "Golden Pond". Go Group! Go!
But I hate pollution and mosquitoes. And my wife is an awesome water-skier (can someone else drive for her so everyone stops hating me?). The Group is attacking power boating to further the Agenda (review above). Unfortunately, the lack of power boat activity increases the growth of algae and stagnant water supports more mosquitoes. No water-skiing makes my wife unhappy (unhappy wife has consequences).
So, I guess I cannot belong to the Group.
So, I guess I cannot belong to the Group.
No Boating 2013
"No Boating 2013" was a complete fabrication built on the success of "No Boating 2012", you just don't know it.
In 2012, the efforts of emergency workers preparing sandbag dikes for homes in peril, were being hampered by boat waves. To assist the workers, power boaters were asked to stay away. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) prepared "No Wake Zone" map for the south end of the lake so boaters could keep a safe distance. The Group capitalized on this concept and fabricated "emergency" locations at the north end of the lake. The "No Wake Map" was replaced by a "No Boating" restriction on the whole lake. The Group had placed the seed and it grew. Now there is "Precedence". This is the tip of the iceberg.
The natural elevations of Wasa Lake are low at the south end with only a few low spots around the rest of the lake. All the homes in peril were at the very south end of the lake. The rest of the homes were built either on high ground or stilts. The Group convinced the RDEK that the protection of "Landscaping" was also deserving of "Emergency Response" (your tax dollars). So now homes with landscaping in peril, are on the same list as homes where the actual house is in peril. The RDEK are mainly administrators not lake foreshore law experts, so the idea seemed reasonable. One minor problem, the "Foreshore" is suppose to be "Natural" not landscaped. So the RDEK is unknowingly protecting illegal landscaping. So then the argument will be "Where is the upper boundary of the foreshore?" It is the normal "High Water Mark". It is NOT where your survey pin may be located. If it is under water or could be under water, it belongs to the Public and you are not suppose to mess with it. Remove the man-made dikes and flap gates and you will quickly be reminded of what is "Natural". So when the Group installed the flood protection system, they can now lay claim to the less often flooded public lands and landscape their newly acquired ground?
In case this is not clear, the land between high and low water levels is environmentally sensitive, public and protected. If your land is flooded, there is a good chance that land belongs to the Federal Government. This is a "Can Of Worms" that nobody wants to mess with when it was the Government that drew the lot lines in the floodplain, sold the land and collects the taxes. If a private developer had built the flooded lots today the hammer would have already come down.
Side note:
Before you beat me up, the best thing Wasa has is the flood dikes and flap gates. They keep the murky River water at bay and we flood with nice clean filtered water, awesome! BUT, the height of the culverts is too high to get a complete drain of the lake each year, so we are not getting a complete "Flush" of old water for new water. You just can't landscape the public land and then have the taxpayers protect your efforts.
In case this is not clear, the land between high and low water levels is environmentally sensitive, public and protected. If your land is flooded, there is a good chance that land belongs to the Federal Government. This is a "Can Of Worms" that nobody wants to mess with when it was the Government that drew the lot lines in the floodplain, sold the land and collects the taxes. If a private developer had built the flooded lots today the hammer would have already come down.
Side note:
Before you beat me up, the best thing Wasa has is the flood dikes and flap gates. They keep the murky River water at bay and we flood with nice clean filtered water, awesome! BUT, the height of the culverts is too high to get a complete drain of the lake each year, so we are not getting a complete "Flush" of old water for new water. You just can't landscape the public land and then have the taxpayers protect your efforts.
The Group also convinced the RDEK that protection of "Skirting Around The Stilts" was a logical extension of homes in peril and would pad the "Statistics" with greater numbers of homes affected by flooding. Since homes have existed on Wasa the solution for many to deal with the natural flooding was to build on "Stilts", some open air, some enclosed for casual storage. They got wet, they dried, this cycle has repeated since the first cabin was built. There are no "Main Floors" of homes in peril, except at the south end of the lake
The Group also considers "Basement Pumping" an obligation and those homes should be included in the statistics given the RDEK is for houses "Affected" by flooding. Ground water is seeping into lots of basements. Yup, that is a fact. Will a jet skier have any influence on this scenario? What a joke. So the few homeowners who installed finished basements when their neighbours are either on high ground or stilts now need our tax dollars spent to fix their bad choices? Why are we listening to gas driven pumps when these people had a year to figure out more permanent waterproofing and sump-pump (with quiet electric motors) system. Another joke. The owners with questionable basements gambled. "What are the odds of another big flood two years in a row?" "Better to save the money and put the house up for sale." Besides if they lose, the taxpayer will come to the rescue.
Bottom line, the Group took a valid emergency situation in 2012 and managed to invoke morally "justified" mob rule against a minority one year later. Their Agenda has been moved forward.
Bottom line, the Group took a valid emergency situation in 2012 and managed to invoke morally "justified" mob rule against a minority one year later. Their Agenda has been moved forward.
Wake up people! You are either a PAWN (being manipulated) or a MUSHROOM (kept in the dark and fed bull shit) or a COWARD (lots of those) or a HOT HEAD (just needs an excuse, like losing the Stanley Cup in Vancouver).
The RDEK has its hands full, it does not have the time or resources to "Micro-Manage" local affairs. It relies on information given to it by (drum roll............................................) the Group.
Or this could be a load of crap. After all the title of this post is THEORY. Post your own theory (chicken, yup, I just called you chicken). I really don't care. I like "Golden Pond" and if the Group scares away power boaters, then there will be more flat water for my wife to water-ski on. Happy wife is good. Party On!
Send this post to everyone you know. They may not care about Wasa or Boating, but this micro example of group dynamics is the same used by those who are destroying our planet, just look at any "Fundamentalist". Someday you may be a minority being abuse by a group, this post will help you deal with it.
By the way, I have to get back to work. I am a mapping computer programmer. If you need mapping, hire me. My wife, Mary, runs Wasa Lakeside B&B, book a room. We own Landmax Realty, a new Real Estate Marketing and Search System built on maps and visual search. Buy Real Estate from us.
Also, try UberWeather Kimberley, it is the sponsor of this blog (I programmed it). The link is at top of each post.
FYI, the Group has never supported us, I wonder why? And stop treating my kids like crap, they like getting along with people. (remember, I am the computer programmer, we have no social skills). Also, whoever stole our stuff, please bring it back. The "lollipop (sugar)" in the gas tank was cute. But, not the best strategy to make me back down.
To add a comment, and personally attack me, this post needs to be open in a new window. Either click the Post Title or HERE. If there is a big white box at the bottom of the page, then you are able to write constructive comments (or attacks with no data) in the box. You can be anonymous (chicken) or known (with slashed tires).
By the way, I have to get back to work. I am a mapping computer programmer. If you need mapping, hire me. My wife, Mary, runs Wasa Lakeside B&B, book a room. We own Landmax Realty, a new Real Estate Marketing and Search System built on maps and visual search. Buy Real Estate from us.
Also, try UberWeather Kimberley, it is the sponsor of this blog (I programmed it). The link is at top of each post.
FYI, the Group has never supported us, I wonder why? And stop treating my kids like crap, they like getting along with people. (remember, I am the computer programmer, we have no social skills). Also, whoever stole our stuff, please bring it back. The "lollipop (sugar)" in the gas tank was cute. But, not the best strategy to make me back down.
To add a comment, and personally attack me, this post needs to be open in a new window. Either click the Post Title or HERE. If there is a big white box at the bottom of the page, then you are able to write constructive comments (or attacks with no data) in the box. You can be anonymous (chicken) or known (with slashed tires).
This is very true - have seen the same process elsewhere. However, the writer has a great sense of humour and I enjoyed reading the article as much as I agree with the content.
ReplyDeleteThe so called group, I guess I am part of the group, but I am not a pawn, mushroom or what ever you wish to call the group. I do have my own thoughts and for a resident who's parents have lived in wasa for over 60 years, might have a idea on the high water around wasa.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank all of the people who went along with the no boating, thanks you for your courtesy.
to some of your concerns James, about the sewage, pumping the sewers out in April is not going to stop the seepage of sewage into the lakes, what is needed is to pump the sewage at the beginning of any chance of water coming and then not to use your septic system until water has gone down. Just a little note, when the river starts to go up and over its banks, guess what all that water up by Dr Greens old place on skookumchuck prairie starts the seepage underground all the way down to wasa lake. So guess what everyone's septic system leeches into wasa lake no matter where you live in wasa, the water runs north to south the natural flow of the water. I am quite sure the majority of wasa residents use their septic system all through the high water time, we are one that pump out our septic system at the beginning of June and once the water reaches a certain level, the septic system is not used until water goes down.
For soap leeching, I have seen this around the lake just not up by the laundry mat at the north end of the lake, this happens when we get waves from the high wind, just a thought may the soap leeching could also be caused by the septic systems that are over flowing from high water.
And the last that I have seen waves and wakes do happen from all types of motorized boats, from small to large waves/wakes depending on the speed and type of boat.
Just a thought maybe not so many places sandbagged this year as by my guess maybe some of these summer cabins, their owners are dealing with flooding else where, like high river, Calgary, canmore, just a guess.
Well belonging to the group, maybe some people should use some common sense, and if that is your choice to never get into a boat that is your choice. So maybe think of these people that can not get here to try and save their wasa place, might be trying to save their home else where. So yes the sandbags are located at the south surrounding regular home owners and some of these seasonal cabin owners got here when it was to late to sand bag as the water was too high to sandbag and some of the sandbags where done around their well houses to save their wells, maybe try and get those facts.
Yes I understand that you love your boats, I do not own a boat so I do not have a hate on for boat owners and enjoying their time out on the lake, but when times are like this around the lake, maybe not having the RDEK and Parks putting up these signs around the lake, maybe everyone around wasa could do on their own is to stop the use of boating for the period of high water, this would be called common sense and have consideration for their neighbours who's places are under water or surrounded by the water whether sandbagged or not.
These are just my thoughts.
And again a big thank you to all the boaters for the kindness and consideration to not boat.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. The challenge is deciding what is worse, boat wave damage to "Property" or Wasa reverting to a swamp of stagnant water. I risked RCMP fines and mob retaliation on Friday to prove that I can drive a boat responsibly with ZERO impact on any property. So there is no proof in the claim that boat waves will cause damage to private property. It is a ruse. A slogan to fire up the mob.
DeleteYour "consideration" should be to responsible boat drivers and prosecute those who operate boats irresponsibly (or without a muffler). This type of control was the thinking that lead to "Prohibition" in the USA. Should be ban alcohol because of those who drink irresponsibly?
Every person I interviewed agreed that a Jet Ski cannot produce enough wake to damage property. So why are they banned? One Jet Ski operator interviewed decided to drive to Invermere instead of use Wasa, as he did not want to come back his car with slashed tires. Goodie, the mob scored a victory. Are you proud?
So if I plant nice flowers along the shoreline next year, will the RDEK ban boating until there is no possible way my flowers may get knocked over by a wave? All the "potential" damage on the north end of the lake is questionable landscaping.
Remember, last year the ban lasted a month and we had algae. The whole thing is retarded. Take responsibility for your property and how you operate a boat. The property is the jurisdiction of the RDEK, the lake is not.
James, I have enjoyed your posts and humour and am congenitally on your side wrt the Group as a social phenomenon. We have certainly experienced the "nazi" inclinations that lie dormant in many in Calgary over the past couple of weeks. The ease with which personal liberties are surrendered because someone asserts a bit of authority is more than shocking. I am a geezer - why am I shocked? But I always am.
ReplyDeleteHaving canoed Wasa all weekend past (making my own little waves.. little yes but waves just the same - bless those little rippers!) I came to the same conclusion as did you. The sand bags seemed to be protecting lawn much moreso than cabin. I take the point of one of your respondents however and am sure that a compromise is available. The water dropped 4 inches over the weekend and by next weekend the boating ban should be without raison d'etre.
As to sewage... foam in the lake has nothing to do with either sewage or laundromat seepage or anything else related to normal life on the lake. It is a function of chemicals that leach from the soil naturally and a bit from the pulp mill. If I am wrong then you people with soapy scum in your hot tubs have some explaining to do. And there is really nothing to fear from it other than a bit of accelerated weed and algae growth. The yellow stuff on the water this year was from pollen from the trees. Normally it drifts to the ground and this year it drifted to the water. Again it would take some data for me to believe that churning the water with a million boat motors will reduce the algae. Stopping water from the Kootenay getting into the lake overland will be a much more promising solution but that will cost major dollars and I can live with the algae more easily than I can a flat wallet.
As to septic tank pumping, I am happy for anyone who wants to, to do so. I won't because it doesn't affect the water one wit for my sewage to exit into the water table. It gets cleaned very well by the natural bugs in the sand and gravels. In fact, pumping the septic might actually retard the cleaning of the gravels because the bugs are taken to a land far, far away when the suction truck shows up. Check this out to see what I mean...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb0xf3mRbJM I have been involved in projects that use this technology in the Third World and it is truly amazing. Wasa is an enormous bioSand water filter flooded or not flooded.
But wasn't it a glorious weekend with or without boats and certainly enhanced by the lack of mosquitoes. Everyone owes Kendra a huge show of gratitude... I was so pleased to see the helicopter floating overhead. Maybe they will show up to spoil next weekend but they were no-shows this past weekend and I was every so grateful.
Awesome Comment. Keep them coming.
DeleteJames, you you can really turn a phrase. Thanks for throwing it all out there. This forum is a great vehicle for debate. I will chip in for tire repair if necessary.
ReplyDeleteFirst, my thoughts on the group:
1. I know the Group exists
2. I can appreciate the Groups arguments and position. One day, I may have leanings that way.
3. I think the Group`s actions are very selfish and their attitude is too. Frankly, the whole thing is shameful.
The lake is used by retirees, young families, the campground crowd, locals, Albertans... all use the lake in different ways and should have equal opportunity do so without fear of reprisal and with equal representation.
4. I know the Group will lose in the end
The group's apparent influence will be short lived. The lake's users will circulate just like the water does every spring. Think back ten or 15 years. On any given summer weekend, how many campfires could you count around the lake on Saturday night? Twenty? Look now. Two or three if you're lucky. There's a funny generation gap at Wasa now. Do you think the Group's kids (more likely grandkids) will want Golden Pond? No, they'll want campfires and boats and skis and tubes god forbid, even loud music. I for one, want Wasa to be a happy place and I'm counting the fires around the lake on warm nights.
Now, my thoughts on powerboating:
I don`t own a boat but I firmly believe that motorized boats on the lake are beneficial for the water quality. I have spent a lot of time working in Florida (primarily in the Orlando area). If you`ve been there, you know that the entire region is a built-up bog. There are thousands of small lakes and ponds in the area and all the clean, healthy ones have some system to circulate and/or aerate the water. I did a little Googling and found that propeller-driven devices called Hydomixers are often used to circulate and aerate water. I have little doubt that boat props work similarly to move and oxygenate the water. Considering the comparatively shallow depth of the lake, I think boats are a good defence against water stratification in the lake too.
I don't think there's any cause to dispute the fact that the waves boats generate reduces mosquito populations at Wasa. The shape, size and orientation of the lake limits natural wave generation. It is a large pond, after all.
The turbidity the boats cause must have some negative effects but I have not observed them. The fishing hasn't suffered and there are lots of healthy weeds at the lake bottom. I have not perceived any shore erosion due to boating at Wasa. I also do not see abnormal algae production. In short, I see no evidence that boats are harming the lake. (also, I personally like the sound of squealing kids on tubes)
Another awesome comment! I have water-skied in Florida, it was scary. The water looked like tea and you were afraid of things with teeth were lurking about. We have the best water-ski lake I have been too!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind debate. But not when people put ideas together in a way that make the reader assume they are related. For Example. "The lake is flooded. My cat is pregnant." These are obviously not related. "Houses are Flooded" "Boat waves will damage them".
Beauty Day!
I just realized that the vehemence of the anti-boat crowd scales linearly with the uprising in Syria. This is a FACT.
ReplyDeletePlease keep these issues up front. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I wish there was more stirring up at the south end of the lake because I think it gets stagnant with no water movement. And even if Ms. P. West is out there swearing at every boater, I would welcome any boaters at our end of the lake.
ReplyDeleteso who ever you are maybe get your facts straight, was not out there swearing at every boater on the lake, it was do to 3 people in canoes and kayaks that were in on our land snooping through our sheds in the high water, when asked to leave the property the one 20 year old told me to go f-myself as he has all the rights in the world to go anywhere there is water, whether he was on high water over our property or not and nothing we could do about it, he got physical with is kayak paddle so yes I was swearing at the ignorant a-hole. And per the police we were in the right to defend our property. So if you want to use my name then get your facts straight.
DeleteSo thank you Ms Patty W
Lol! There is one (public) lake with a diverse user group. Everyone has their own vision of what it should be and that's alright. Plowing a wakeboat through a flooded area is a dick move. So is telling boats not to trespass on your personal vision.
ReplyDeleteIt is a dick move and against the law. Write down the numbers on the bow of the boat and call the RCMP or other enforcement. Same with no mufflers. Drinking Alcohol. Dangerous Driving. It is all against the law.
DeleteI am an avid power boater for which Wasa Lake has been my home away from home since 1996. Truth be told, I don't usually participate in blogs, but if even half of what I have read on this community blog is true, it makes me sick to my stomach. The following is simply an expression of my opinion on the matter, and I wish to stress that I in no way feel I have an expert opinion regarding the politics of the Wasa lake community.
ReplyDeleteAs anyone who has experienced Wasa Lake could tell you, it is a rather small lake. Additionally, the trend in power boats has been for increasing size and mass (via ballasts) in order to throw an optimum (and albeit large) wake for the purposes of wake boarding, surfing etc... . Personally I wouldn't even attempt to use a large, direct-drive craft in Wasa, but that's just me. In my humble opinion, I have every right to own a boat, but operating a boat on Wasa is a privilege, much the same as operating a car on public roads is a privilege. With these privileges come a set of responsibilities. If my boating is truly threatening the home/property of an individual I believe it is my moral responsibility to seriously evaluate whether or not I should be boating on the lake. However, it is also the responsibility of said homeowner to ensure they are building on appropriate sites, using appropriate techniques as dictated by legislation and common sense (IE distance from shoreline, use of stilts etc...). I will not be made to suffer because of someone else's ignorance.
Take this as food for thought; again I am no expert on this matter.
As a Ph.D candidate in environmental microbiology with research interests focusing in aquatic bioremediation, I do however feel I have some expertise that may shed some light on the debates regarding perceived benefits of the oxygenation of the lake via power boats, and on contaminate leaching into the lake (whether the source be septic tanks, laundromats, or other). Please keep an eye out for my future post on this matter, which should hopefully come in the next few days (provided approval by the blog mediator of course).
Awesome Marc! I will certainly defer to your expertise. Very interested in your feedback. I assume from your use of the term 'perceived benefits' that props probably have a negligable effect on oxygenation...
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of buying property here in ur little town,but after reading all of this blog i think ill pass.....Sounds like Wasa mofia live here....no thanks..Jan
ReplyDelete