I also "mostly" agree with Rick. In his first paragraph he repeated the same misunderstanding as CT, that I implied that cops were receiving illicit funds. What I was pointing out was that cops and politicians were NOT receiving money from livaboarders because they were not paying property tax and that this is a major factor driving persecution of livaboards..
His second paragraph reflects my view too, but furthermore, when cops do bad things people, often innocent people, can suffer false imprisonment, severe injury, and death. One would hope police would police themselves but more often it seems they close ranks and protect each other. Witness the black motorcycle rider, an insurance salesman, that a gang of cops murdered by smashing his skull with Mag lights a few years ago in Florida. They were all acquitted. Perhaps they were familiar with Murder on the Orient Express. Similar stories appear from time to time. The rest of Rick's posting is spot-on, and I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the input on the DR. I no longer hold any hope for an effective lobbying presence to represent livaboard boaters. There are too few of us, many of us don't have the money available to support an effective defense, and we are a very independent bunch anyway. If the well-to-do boaters who were pushed out of marinas as the condo gang took them over can't help themselves the is no hope for us retired geezers to have any effect. At one time BoatUS claimed they were going to lobby for boaters issues, but they seem to just address issues concerning the sort of boater that buy stuff in their stores. Moving to another country becomes more attractive as my own country becomes more and more oppressive toward my kind. Norm S/V Bandersnatch Lying Julington Creek 30 07.695N 081 38.484W > [Original Message] > From: Rick Morel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 9/30/2008 10:08:01 AM > Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] The LIvaboard Lifestyle > > I agree with CT. As an ex-cop, he's dead on that money does not go > into the cops' pockets except for the free coffee and sometimes lunch > (a payback for a uniform in the cafe, coffee house, whatever). To > quote CT, "are just doing what they're are directed by statute to do > and that for a salary that does disservice to their risk.". Amen, brother. > > Cops are like teenagers. The few power trip ones get all the > attention while the majority of dedicated folks doing the job sort of > just fade into the background. > > I also agree that it's mostly the environmentalists. I'm not > advocating trashing our world, but there has to be a reasonable > balance. Another factor is our sue crazy country. Our parish (county) > run marina doesn't "officially" allow live aboards (there are 4 of > us). The main reason given was "liability" ("For what?" I asked and > couldn't get and answer). The other reason was "sewage". When I > pointed out we all have Lectra/San MSD's, I got a completely clueless > look and had to explain what that was. I also pointed out that > thousands of gallons of "that stuff" came down the drainage coulee's > into the port, not to mention all the oil, diesel and hazardous > chemicals that are constantly "accidently" spilled into the canals. A > day doesn't go by with at least a sheen on the water, and about half > the time we get foot high suds when a boat comes through. > > I also mostly agree with Norm. We're planning on spending most of our > time out of the country. Norm, a friend just came back from 4 years > hopping between St. Croix and the Dominican Republic. He worked in > St. Croix then spent most of his time in the DR, where he said he > could "live like a King" on about $100 US a month - the exchange rate > was 34 to 1. > > Cruising, like most things, was a lot easier and more enjoyable in > the 60's and 70's, and I'm sure earlier. Of course there weren't as > many people doing it. I remember areas back then in Florida that > were "wilds" and now have wall to wall condos. One area comes to > mind. There was a tiny marina behind a service station. When I asked > the charge, the owner asked how long we'd be there. I told him > probably a couple weeks and he said, "Give me 5 bucks and we'll talk > if you stay longer". Wound up staying a couple months at $10 a month. > next door was a church converted from a house. They had a "back yard" > with picnic tables and such and a little deck on the water. They said > to use it all as if it were our own. To the East was town, to the > West miles of vacant land. > > This was in the early 70's. In 2000 we passed though. The service > station was still there, but behind it was a huge marina with the > cheapest boat there probably about $350K and a $3 a foot transient > daily fee. The church was still there, but it was now a 4 story > granite building with "No Trespassing" signs on their huge dock. The > vacant land to the West was now miles of condos, camps, homes, hotels, etc. > > But then, we can't live in the past. I do wonder though if something > can't be done. Are there enough of us to start a federal campaign? > Seems to me we're in the same boat (pun intended) as folks who live > in green houses would be if suddenly the powers that be decide that > green houses are ugly and no one can live in them. > > Rick 'n' Cathy > S/V Valkyrie > Port of Iberia, LA > > > At 12:27 PM 9/29/2008, CT wrote: > > >Norm, > > > >You have every right to verbally attack anyone or thing you desire > >(I fought for that right) but I have to say we don't live in 1920's > >Chicago or 1980's New Orleans. Money does not go into the cops > >pockets (free coffee at the local roach coach being my > >exception). Politicians maybe, Federal, local and state tax coffers > >certainly, but the police (marine or land-based - and yes, I work > >both) are just doing what they're are directed by statute to do and > >that for a salary that does disservice to their risk. > > > >I don't think there's a need to lie to a cop about owning property > >but I've never run into that problem personally. Your boat is real > >property and you have probably already paid sales taxes on it and > >might still be paying registration taxes as well. In effect, you > >own property. You don't own land but the tax system in all their > >efforts to squeeze the public for money missed the liveaboard, > >non-land owner. Their fault, not ours. A post office box shoreside > >is all that's required for a proof of address. > > > >Were I to vent on the liveaboard/marina issue, it would be against > >the environmentalists - they are the prima causa belli in my > >opinion. Take away the rules and regulations they forced upon us and > >you'll find life a little more resembling nirvana afloat. My > >opinion, but then, I've never been mainstream about much. > > > >All the best, > >CT > >S/V/ Calliste > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Absolute safety is a concept promoted by those > without the guts to live in the real world. > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
