George Rebane
[This the transcript of the 19nov2010 edition of my bi-weekly KVMR-FM 89.5 commentary. Today’s cartoon in the 20nov2010 Union by my friend RL ‘Bob’ Crabb is on the same topic. It is here purloined by permission.]
This week I attended the November luncheon meeting of the Nevada County Republican Women Federated, of which I am an Associate Member. These women are by far the most dynamic and active conservative Republican group in the county.
Supervisor John Spencer was the featured speaker this month, and he chose to give us a Glenn Beckian whiteboard presentation of highlights of the county’s political history over the last twenty years. It was an excellent summary that ended with an alarming report of the next layer of regulations coming down from state that will cost us more money and reduce our freedoms.
Supervisor John told us of the new state mandate to have all new construction housing in California incorporate inside sprinkler systems. These new systems will add at least $10,000 to the cost of a house and promise to provide a goodly fraction of their owners with a wet surprise now and then. The new code calls for the sprinklers not necessarily to put out any insipient fires, but to provide a ‘mist’ that may enable occupants to evacuate the premises.
Sacramento is requiring all the local jurisdictions to modify their building codes to require the incorporation of these sprinkler systems. And if a jurisdiction, like Nevada County, chooses not to modify their building code, then by state law it will no longer be allowed to issue building permits. In essence its planning and building departments would be shut down.
The younger listeners to this broadcast will not remember nor have they been taught in state schools the level of freedoms we enjoyed in days of yore. These folks and those who have not been paying attention will barely notice or take note of the ratchet on our collars tightening another click – it has all happened so gradually. But there it is again – for our own good of course. Who would be so foolish as to say no to fire safety?
And maybe next year they’ll make us even safer by requiring that no house may be sold without the retrofit of such sprinkler systems. Now that may be a $20 to 30,000 bill. But remember, you can’t be too safe. And not to worry, if you’re among the government favored economic class, you will have your retrofit subsidized by the unfavored class.
Our freedoms have been whittled down bit by piece for the better part of the 20th century, and now we have kicked the whole process into high gear. The history of tyrannies is replete with stories of ‘we never knew it could wind up like this so fast’. Check it out for yourself, talk to your neighbors about what it was like then compared to now.
Supervisor Spencer wound up his talk by announcing that the Board of Supervisors would have this sprinkler mandate on its agenda real soon now. Moreover, there is nothing we can do about it except adopt its provisions. And therefore the county’s building codes would be appropriately modified to require sprinklers on all new construction. That’s just the way things are these days, every sunrise comes with more regulations.
After his talk I asked John, what would happen if the Supervisors voted to reject the state mandate on sprinklers. He confirmed that under state law our building department could not issue any more building permits. But then what would happen if someone built a house to pre-sprinkler code and moved in? Would the governor call out the National Guard or the local SWAT team to evict the homeowner? Would they tear down the house or confiscate it or … ? John said he didn’t know because no one had thought to explore that possibility. We have always done whatever they tell us to do, no matter what.
I’m sure the news media would cover such a rebellious act in which a small county finally says to big government that ‘enough is enough!’. Could just saying NO catch on? Would it spread like wildfire across the state? Across the nation? Would people start waking up?
I am George Rebane and I also expand on these and other themes in my Union columns, on NCTV, and on georgerebane.com where this transcript appears. These opinions are not necessarily shared by KVMR. Thank you for listening.
[20nov2010 addendum]
[11dec2010 addendum] A regular RR reader who is in the know about these things sent me the following chart that indicates what has been going on in Nevada County regarding residential construction. It sure looks like the new additions to the building code will achieve total victory for the ‘no growthers’.
rebanesruminations.com 
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