Vermont Farmer battles Homeland Security

[cali]

FRANKLIN, Vt. — The red brick house sits unassumingly on a sleepy back road where the lush farmlands of northern Vermont roll quietly into Canada. This is the Morses Line border crossing, a point of entry into the United States where more than three cars an hour constitute heavy traffic.

The bucolic setting of silos and sugar maples has become the focus of a bitter dispute that pits one of America’s most revered traditions — the family-owned farm — against the post-9/11 reality of terror attacks on US soil.

The Department of Homeland Security sees Morses Line as a weak link in the nation’s borders, attractive to terrorists trying to smuggle in lethal materials. The government is planning an estimated $8 million renovation here as part of a nationwide effort to secure border crossings.

It intends to acquire 4.9 acres of border land on a dairy farm owned for three generations by the Rainville family. Last month, the Rainvilles learned that if they refuse to sell the land for $39,500, the government intends to seize it by eminent domain.

The Rainvilles call this an unjustified land-grab by federal bullies.

“They are trying to steamroll us,’’ said Brian Rainville, 36, a high school government and civics teacher whose grandfather bought the farm in 1946 and whose parents and two brothers run it now. “We have a buyer holding a gun to our head saying you have to sell or else.’’

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2010/05/17/vt_farmer_draws_a_line_at_us_bid_to_bolster_border/

[Hannah Bell]

1. k/r

[Scuba]

4. Meanwhile, a half-mile down thru the woods.....

...c'mon, is this really necessary or useful?

Glad the owners have some brains and are willing to fight.

Stuff like this makes me think RW's do it just so they can say "see, government doesn't work".

[Yeahyeah]

2. Saw a couple of Homeland Security SUV's outside an expensive restaurant the other day

one of those has got to cost a lot more than $39,500.

[cali]

3. the value of the land itself aside

this is a crossing that sees a handful of cars a day. They don't need the acreage from the farm.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. I'd bet Bernie Sanders would offer his help.

It seems like something he'd do.

[cali]

6. Actually, this is more up Pat's alley- or at least his Vermont office

and Leahy is assisting the Rainvilles.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. I failed to mention Lahey. Both would champion this cause.

You're right. They will help these folks out.

[Gman]

8. Canadians will do the jobs Americans won't do

[Dead_Parrot]

9. 4.9 acres would nicely house Belfast City Airport -

at least, the terminal building and short-stay car park (4.3 acres) - with enough room left over for a large shrubbery.

Of course, Belfast is a small farming community whereas Morses Line is a well-known trouble spot, so I guess it's OK.

:silly: