If you complain about the water dept., the terrorists have won

dixiehack · Jun 22, 2013

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation would like you to know that if you complain about the quality of the water supply without a good reason, they will literally make a federal case out of it.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130621/NEWS02/306210110/Official-Water-complaints-could-act-terrorism-?gcheck=1

A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director warned a group of Maury County residents that unfounded complaints about water quality could be considered an “act of terrorism.”

“We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously,” said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC’s Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. “But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there’s no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism.”

“Can you say that again, please?” an audience member can be heard asking on the audio.

Smith went on in the recording to repeat the claim almost verbatim.
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Would water boarding with polluted water violate the Geneva Comvention?

LongTimeListener · Jun 22, 2013

Boy, that sets a new standard for outlandishness and intimidation.

Also brings up a bugaboo of mine: TDEC said it was looking into what had been said at the meeting and that Smith would not be available for comment.

Is he not coming to work? Can he not be contacted in any way? He is not unavailable for comment simply because someone in the office says he is unavailable for comment. If he says he doesn't want to talk or to get the fuck out of his face, that's fine (and the latter would be even more newsworthy), but he is a public official and he is not unavailable for comment simply because the department spokeswoman says so.

TrooperBari · Jun 22, 2013

LongTimeListener said:

Boy, that sets a new standard for outlandishness and intimidation.
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"Terrorism" is a wonderfully malleable label. Apparently people who document animal cruelty are, like those who complain about water quality, in league with al Qaeda.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/13/haslam-vetoes-ag-gag-bill/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/us/taping-of-farm-cruelty-is-becoming-the-crime.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

But a dozen or so state legislatures have had a different reaction: They proposed or enacted bills that would make it illegal to covertly videotape livestock farms, or apply for a job at one without disclosing ties to animal rights groups. They have also drafted measures to require such videos to be given to the authorities almost immediately, which activists say would thwart any meaningful undercover investigation of large factory farms.

Critics call them “Ag-Gag” bills.

Some of the legislation appears inspired by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a business advocacy group with hundreds of state representatives from farm states as members. The group creates model bills, drafted by lobbyists and lawmakers, that in the past have included such things as “stand your ground” gun laws and tighter voter identification rules.

One of the group’s model bills, “The Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act,” prohibits filming or taking pictures on livestock farms to “defame the facility or its owner.” Violators would be placed on a “terrorist registry.”
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Killick · Jun 23, 2013

This jagoff needs fired immediately. And while we're at it, seems threatening of civil liberties by a public official should be deemed terrorism. Smith needs a nice stint at Gitmo to remind him he's supposed to serve the public, not intimidate it.

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If you complain about the water dept., the terrorists have won

dixiehack Well-Known Member

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If you complain about the water dept., the terrorists have won

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