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writing for godot

WTF? Oregon Man Serving Time For Collecting Rainwater.

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Written by John Glassco   
Thursday, 21 August 2014 02:32
This headline caught my eye. I believe CNS News may have first published the story of Gary Harrington, (just search his name to discover lots of articles.) This rural Oregon man got 30 days in jail and a fine for "collecting" rainwater on his own property. This headline and most of the stories under it are pure shenanigans. The right-wing media is gulping it down as another example of an out-of-control government persecuting this poor sucker for a petty misdemeanor.

Let’s face it, all water starts as rainwater. Once it hits the ground it becomes "surface water." The water in question is not the rainwater that originated on the owners property, contrary to many of the statements in the various articles, it is a surface water stream. This is where the dishonest reporting comes in.

Any stream crossing your property is not your water. All surface and underground water in every state belong to the people of that state. You need a legal water right to take it, even on your own property - this is the American system folks. This law goes back over two centuries to when the first wells were being dug into the lands of the expanding west.

For years, local entrepreneurs like this Oregon man do not understand this law. They are regularly charged with diverting streams into private ponds without a water right. It is like stealing water from irrigation canals without paying for it. I think most people would agree with state and federal agencies regulating the state's water rather than just letting people take whatever they want for nothing from any location.

The media is presenting this story as an example of the government putting people in jail for "collecting" rainwater. Sorry, but this is an impossible twist of the truth.

Harrington’s private reservoirs on his 170 acres contain 13 million gallons of water. The City of Medford had a prior ancient legal claim to the stream that crossed his property. Harrington had broken many agreements and ignored all attempts to get him to stop his hoarding over a period of over ten years. It is never clear why he is doing this.

I remember years ago when the news had less slant. Nowadays people seem to be OK with slanted news, as long as the slant is in their direction.

Sorry folks, this story is pure shenanigans. The right-wing press is spreading this false story, and yet they are always eager to characterize the rest of the media as gullible and lamestream - sheesh.
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