A few more thoughts on the proposed Army training center

I took a ride through Maromas, down Freeman Road, to check out the site of the proposed Army Reverve Training Center and I could understand why neighbors, conservationists and environmentalists are dismayed. The government document explaining the need to consolidate Army Reserve Bases is here.

The rugged, forested acreage is what's left of the wild side of Middletown.

In addition, in conversation with some knowledgeable folks, I learned a few new facts.

If the base is built on that site, it will need a huge parking lot. How big? Well, according to one knowledgeable source, think about the entire site of Metro Square in downtown Middletown (where Destinta Theaters are located), now cover that entire site with blacktop, and extend the blacktop a quarter mile to the north - all the way to Ferry Street. That's how big the Army Training Center parking lot will need to be. That's how much blacktop will be covering some currently rugged, undeveloped forest land (of which there is very little left in Middletown.)

In terms of running sewer and water to the site, there are apparently millions of dollars available in the federal site plan to build those lines. It would be a convenient way to open the Saybrook Road corridor to commercial development. The Middlesex Chamber of Commerce is apparently very interested in this possibility, and so, is supporting the idea of the Army Training Base. But take a ride to Groton, and examine the kind of commercial interests which spring up around such a site - bars, liquor stores, convenience stores, gas stations, chain restaurants, dollar stores. Is this the kind of development Middletown wants? And is Saybrook Road where we want it to exist?

Indeed, the "trusted" Army Corp of Engineers (remember, they're the ones who built the levees in New Orleans) can build this training center wherever they see fit in Middletown, by federal law, but they have publicly expressed the opinion that they want to work with the town, and will consider other sites, if necessary. Some other proposed sites suggested include CVH (arguably the finest plot of real estate in Middletown), the current, and newly built, juvenile detention center on Silver Street and the old Remington Rand factory site. The feds do not have to adhere to zoning regulations, building codes, land use ordinances, rights of way or any of the other laws which the rest of us townspeople have to obey.

It's still not clear which politician did Middletown the favor of gifting us with the Training Center mandate. Most recently I've heard allegations that it was a deal to build the site in Rosa Delauro's district. For obvious reasons, the site needs to be centralized. But is Portland any less central than Middletown, or Haddam, or Cromwell, or New Britain for that matter. I hate to get all NIMBY about this, but Middletown bears the entire burden of centralized mental health facilities for the state. It's home to a prison for juveniles, a state courthouse, a rail spur for the training of federal engineers. Do we really need more land off the tax roles, and developed in a way over which we have no say?

While it's unlikely that the Army Reserve will be using the training center to teach waterboarding, and more likely that it will be a center for vehicle repair education, the town will have no say over what happens at the site, and the Army will not have to inform the town about activities there.

The good news is that neighbors and land use activists have already had two group meeting to learn more about the proposed development, and are beginning to organize to oppose the building of the center in Maromas.

Time to dump the mugwumps

Historically speaking mugwumps were Republicans who abandoned their party to adopt Democratic principles. In a more generic manner, the world came to define political straddlers, and fence-sitters (sitting with their mugs on one side of the fence, and their wumps on the other), what some beltway politicians lovingly refer to as bi-partisan.

Paul Krugman, who is as often right as he is righteous, gives us reason to turn the mugwumps out of office and elect political leaders who are willing to take on the progressive fight that a majority in America is demanding.

Thanks to SF Hansen for bringing Krugman's Slate essay to my attention.

Democratic martyr or feudal princess

Maybe the American view of Benazir Bhutto is as inaccurate as it is fantastical.

Here's another view. Thanks Vijay.

Open space vs. army base

A well-written article this morning in the Hartford Courant by Josh Kovner adds new details to the impending controversy about the building of an Army Reserve Training Center in the Maromas section of Middletown.

The article raises questions and concerns along with some new hope.

On the hopeful side, there is a clause in the property ownership papers that says the state has the right of first refusal on the site as open space if CL&P decides to sell. That would, of course mean that the DEP has the will, the money and the public support to buy the acreage as open space. The good news here is that is should be easy to build a coalition of open space and environmental activists to lobby the state to purchase the land. Not that the fight will be an easy one, but there are plenty of folks in town, and in the state, with strong feelings on the issue.

Also of some limited hope is that the Army is willing to look at other town sites for the project. More on the negative side of that below.

Of concern are the mayor's attitude that "the Army, which is exempt from local land-use laws, is driving this project." Despite his willingness to pin the blame for this green space development on the Army, he still supports the base construction at the proposed site. If the base is build there, it will cost millions to improve utilities to the site, and will open the entire corridor to commercial development.

Also of concern is information in the story that, " The federal Base Realignment and Closure legislation of 2005 requires that the center be built in Middletown." Somewhere, sometime, some politician thought they were doing Middletown a favor by inserting that clause into federal statute. What it means is that Middletown has to swallow yet another, off-the-tax-rolls development that will bring little in value to town.

The final concern is that our town planner has suggested that a former brownfield might be a good spot for the training center. On the surface, not a bad idea, but his first suggestion is the former Remington Rand plant. This is a site which has been pursued by environmental activist who are looking for access to the Little River (the Mattabesset/Cocinchaug). This suggestion is puzzling since the planner has been an advocate of the Jonah Project on the same site.

Ralph Nader was right

So editorialized Dave Schulz, local artist and billboardist on the signs in front of his Ridge Road home. Of course, Schulz is right considering how little difference there is between the Bush administration and the Democratic congress.

Driving in the other direction you'll see another message.
























Schulz is an acclaimed artist, and one of his paintings, of the Portland quarry (and my favorite) hangs above the piano in our library.

Twenty-five minutes on the Bauer hour

Middletown's media gadfly, and sometimes Common Council member David Bauer, invited me to be on his Bauer Hour TV show cablecast on the local Comcast cable access channel. It turned out to be a neighborhood show as Monica Belyea who lives down the street was also appearing to talk about the child nutrition program she helped create.

The show will be broadcast next Friday again in the Middletown area at 9pm.

What's more surprising, Bush's veto of a military funding bill, or Reid and Pelosi's promise to adjust it quickly to Bush specifications?

George Bush will use a pocket veto to allow the military funding bill passed by Congress to die on December 31.

Democratic headline: Bush Vetoes Bill for Support of Military and Veterans

The problem is, that in their rush not to be seen as non-supporters of the troops and veterans, House and Senate leaders Pelosi and Reid will rush to reinstate the bill exactly the way Bush wants it.

Republican headline: Congressional Leaders Readily Fund War

Jim Amann's allergic reaction to ethics

Jon Lender is at it again, digging in the details and finding dirt. Today he reported that according to Representative Chris Caruso, the office of House Speaker James Amann "meddled and tried to weaken the new ethics rules," about to be passed by the house after many hours of legitimate debate.

Of course Amann's office had a ready excuse, just as he did when he called a last minute, and short session which caused taxpayers a $50k fee for interrupting the work of a contractor at the state capitol, and just so happened to be on a day when Amann was hosting a Christmas party in Hartford - a party, which might not have been well attended if lawmakers weren't in Hartford.

This is the same Amann who saw no problem in strong arming lobbyists to contribute to the non-profit (Multiple Sclerosis Society) he was employed by. In fact, Amann continued the strong arming until he was ordered to by a state ethics department.

Amann, who is reportedly preparing for a run for governor, also support Joe Lieberman over Ned Lamont in the last election for US Senator.

Seems like Amann received his degree in political science in Waterbury.

Another Republican we ought to be scraping off the soles of our shoes

Someone important once wrote "the truth will out," but I have my doubts.

Still, it's encouraging to see a newpaper editor doing the kind of job he ought to be doing. Seems like Alabama Governor Bob Riley, who by some reports stole his election with the help of Karl Rove, has now been discovered dipping into the corporate pocketbook and not reporting it. It's Riley, and his associates that put his gubenatorial challenger in jail.

On Countdown, Dodd talks sense on Pakistan

Chris Dodd appeared last night on a special edition of Countdown which dealt with the death of Benazir Bhutto, and the effect it will have in Pakistan and the world.

Dodd advises caution, stability, and delayed elections so that the People's Party of Pakistan can get back on its feet before an election is held.

TiVo the torture, or how to say "no" without saying "no"

Did George Bush see the torture tapes he has denied knowledge of until a few weeks ago?

New suspicions suggest that Bush indeed saw one or more of the tapes, and was apprised of their destruction. The tapes could hold evidence that this administration is guilty of war crimes for torture.

And Michael Mukasey, who issued a material witness warrant for Jose Padilla, based on information obtained from Abu Zubaydah during those torture sessions, may be compromised as the leader of a Justice Department investigation into the destruction of the tapes.

The convenient death of Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto was putting heat on the Bush-backed dictator Pervez Musharaff, and on the zealots in the religious right wing in Pakistan, and she was assassinated today at a political rally. Other parliamentary candidates were rumored to be killed in the attack.

A tragedy for the world, for Pakistan, for democracy, and for her family and followers, Bhutto's death is a huge, "coincidental" advantage in the elections for opponents in the upcoming elections.

Musharaff may find that as much as his political fortunes may have appeared to have risen today, that a politically motivated assassination can curiously turn sour for anyone who may even appear to take advantage from it.

I was just talking about Bhutto this weekend with John Schilke who taped an interview with her this past summer in his studio in New Haven when she was visiting Yale. And a former co-worker was a classmate of hers at Harvard.

Concerts of the week

Okay so I missed Robert Randolf and the North Mississippi All Stars last night at the Webster, but I'm not a bad man.

I probably won't get to any of these either, but you should.

Alejandro Escovedo
Friday December 28, 7 & 10 pm
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton MA

A master of world-weary songs that skitter between blistering punk, and the most mournful of folk balladry, Escovedo has been hailed as one of America's most interesting, most underrated and most gifted musicians. So far from home between Christmas and New Years, Escovedo may be looking for a roomful of friends to lend an ear.

Melissa Ferrick and Erin McKeown
Monday December 31, 8 pm
Calvin Theater, Northampton MA


For the past several years Dar Williams has returned "home" for the New Year, and hosted a concert at the Calvin. I just heard that Dar moved to Cali, and that she's not touring in 08 until (appropriately) February. Ferrick and McKeown are brilliant on stage.

Al Anderson
Monday December 31, 7 & 10 pm
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton MA

The first night in Northampton offers a lot of what Hartford's first night used to - first class entertainment. So you can wander around the streets of that funky, artsy town all day, and then settle in for a New Year's worth talking about at one of the Iron Horse venues. Al Anderson owns the Horse on New Year's.

An end of the year jaunt down Main Street Middletown

It's boxing day and the malls and outlets are filled with people returning gifts, cashing in gift cards and looking for the post-holiday bargains.

Much of downtown Middletown was quiet, but there was progress afoot on the section of Main Street North of Washington.

At O'Rourke's, I found Brian himself standing amidst the workers who are pushing to have the interior finished by January 15. Long after the fire which decimated the popular eatery, and vintage diner, it appears as if the restaurant will rise again from the ashes.

"I had Christmas tea in here yesterday," Brian said. "It was the best feeling in the world."

The new O'Rourkes won't be much bigger, but new refrigerators and freezers will open work space, and a redesigned counter will improve workflow.

"They say the inside will be done on the 15th, but it will be a while longer before I have my flatware in, and my purveyors lined up," Brian admitted. "And they don't want me to do a soft opening."

A little further South on the corner of Liberty and Main, workers from Nicholas Brothers from Hopewell Junction, NY were placing a beam beneath the historic building at 9 Liberty which will be moved onto a lot on Rapallo Ave.

Joe Nicholas explained that his family have been in the house moving business for three generations. The two huge steel beams under the house will be joined by perpendicular beams before the house is raised. A small addition on the back of the house will be razed.

"And we've got to take down the chimneys, or they'll topple in the move," Joe explained.

Finally, a "moving sale" banner caught my eye, and struck me with a sense of dread, until I read it completely to find out that Middletown Framing will only be moving across the street into a new storefront location.

New teeth for Shane

Shane MacGowan turns 50 tomorrow, miraculously. A Christmas miracle, in fact.

The Daily Mirror, surprised at his coherence, delivered the most surprising news for the new year. Teeth.

The Pogues return to America in March to help us celebrate St. Patty's.

Fairytale of New York made it to Number 4 on the British charts based on the BBC censoring some of the song lyrics. The same kind of censorship helped get the Pogues attention at the beginning of their careers. Their original name was Pogue Mahone, which means, "Kiss my arse," in gaelic.

Bush waterboard thyself

As this man warns, a little water can be a dangerous thing, and a lesson.

More "kooks say the truest things"

Towards the end of his Meet the Press interview, Ron Paul addresses his warning, paraphrasing Sinclair Lewis, that when fascism comes to America "it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." Paul clarifies and amplifies his concern, speaking about the "soft fascism" that has already arrived.

Giving Seb his Christmas due

I don't always see eye-to-eye with Middletown's mayor.

But this season, I've heard about at least two occasions when he's gone out of his way to focus his attention on those most in need. He spoke convincingly at a service for the homeless, and just yesterday I heard he made an appearance at a Christmas party Saturday for kids who otherwise might not have Christmas.

The mayor doesn't have to attend these events, but Seb did.

Merry Christmas, Mayor Giuliano.

Creepy Joe runs with the Republicans

Creepy Joe Lieberman is flexing his slime glands. First he hops on the John McCain bandwagon, now he's campaigning against a Democrat in Maine.

When Susan Collins was campaigning with CJ against Ned Lamont, she, at least, wasn't betraying the party with which she was caucusing.

Get thee behind me Satan

My four year old boys have a pretty distinct New Testament categorization.

"There are two Jesuses," they told me the other day. "The baby Jesus, and the one they nailed on a cross."

Sure they've skipped all the good words in between (the beatitudes still get high marks from this old atheist), but it's pretty much on the money in the way we deal with the lord.

We feel good about his birth every year about this time, and the rest of the year we ignore everything he said.

I find this particularly true amongst "loud" Christians. The Christians who are constantly proclaiming a worldview in which Jesus in control. You know, "Jesus told me to do this, and that," and "It's the Lord's will," and "I put myself in the hands of Jesus." The way I understand it is that we're on our own, to make our own decisions, and using JC's words as guide, we should be able to make a pretty good place of this old world. Jesus isn't whispering in our ear. He's pretty much hands-off to see just how responsible we are.

And so, it's pretty easy to distinguish the Samaritans from the Pharisees.

George Bush, is a Pharisee. He says Jesus told him to bomb Iraq. Not something I suspect Jesus would tell anyone. George Bush is just looking for someone to blame, and Jesus is convenient because George knows full well that he's not around to testify before Congress. I suspect that old George doesn't ever expect to meet up with Jesus.

Down here, all you have to do is destroy some videotapes and stonewall Congress and you can get away with war crimes.

If you buy that whole, "Jesus is waiting for me on the other side," you're not likely to lob bombs on innocent civilians and expect to pass muster with St. Pete. So I'm thinking George Bush doesn't buy the whole concept of heaven and an afterlife. Or maybe he's just listening to the wrong voices.

And that would make him a liar and a hypocrite, or at best, simply deluded. But what else is new.

Matthew 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

The elves showed this one at their Christmas party

Sure it's a bit of an inside joke, but it can't beat Orson Welles on peas.

How many lawyers does it take to screw in a light bulb to illuminate the Constitution?

Here's a 1K spotlight on Bush shenanigans.

The Hoover metaphor extended

In his distinct ability to widen the gap between rich and poor, and his lackluster performance as chief executive, George Bush has often been compared to Herbert Hoover.

Certainly, Bush has been compared frequently to the vacuum of the same name.

And now, we find that Bush and deranged, power-mad, megalomaniac J. Edgar Hoover have quite a bit in common.

Funny how the "kooks" make the most sense

Mike Gravel channels John Lennon.



John Lennon channels Mike Gravel.

Vote counters cook corporate books

Some disturbing news from Diebold, the makers of ATM and voting machines, including those which are used in Connecticut.

Seems Diebold is using unscrupulous accounting practices.

Doesn't build any additional confidence in casting a vote on one of their machines.

A very leaky bucket

When the Bush Justice Department tells a judge to back off from his inquiry into whether the CIA destroyed evidentiary videos, it's not an argument that holds much water.

The Justice Department, members of which may have been involved in the order to destroy the tapes, haven't had a great track record over the past eight years. Do the names Ashcroft and Gonzales ring a bell? How about Plamegate? And then there's the firing of US Attorneys General for poitical reasons.

Of course, there is the base untrustworthiness of Bush and his immediate minions.

It is, of course, a case of the fox not only guarding the henhouse, but running the KFC franchise.

So Judge Kennedy, it will be interesting to see if you have the good "judgment" of your appointed title.

Connecticut give the world the hero and the scum

To the Democratic base, and to many in the country who respect Constitutional freedoms, this week demonstrated that there are still heroes. Heroes like Chris Dodd deserve to be recognized despite the way colleagues in their own parties would like to demonize them.

On the other hand, we have pond algae like Creepy Joe Lieberman standing with Republicans and joshing about the passage of yet another bill to fund the war, in the same week he endorsed a Republican candidate for President.

Two new Billy Bragg songs and videos

To be featured in the new film Mama's Boy, the songs Bed, Bath and Bullshit and Old-Fashioned Girl.

Billy Bragg - "Bed, Bath and Bullshit" from Mama's Boy


Billy Bragg - "Old-Fashioned Girl" from Mama's Boy

Reid out, Dodd in?

It's a nice thought.

Harry Reid has been over his head since he took the reins of the Senate.

But why didn't someone think of this a long time ago.

I can't help but point out the inconsistency

On my way back from a meeting, I was listening to Jim Vicevich (WTIC-AM), making fun of his radio colleague Colin McEnroe, because Colin was returning from a trip to San Francisco.

"That's Disneyland for people like him, isn't it?" Vicevich ranted. "You know, for liberals, San Francisco is like Disneyland. Do you know they actually make it easier for homeless people there. They have food, shelter, health care, ID cards. They only thing they don' t have is...(Jim chuckles)...jobs."

Then Vicevich makes a pitch to donate to the Salvation Army, because, "That's what we're put on earth for, to help other people."

Huh?

Guess he doesn't see the disconnect.

And I'm sure he doesn't understand why people are homeless. It's not because they don't want jobs. Many are dealing with mental illness. Many are the very veterans who Vicevich so often praises. Many are people who have, for whatever reason - divorce, loss of a job, health issues - found themselves outside of the safety net.

Vicevich is a lip service Christian of the worst kind. In one sentence, he denigrates those of us who feel that all people deserve shelter, food, and healthcare, and in the next sentence he says it's our duty as humans to do the things he has just denigrated.

Most hilariously, when a caller suggested that anyone could volunteer, for any length of time, to be a bellringer for the Salvation Army, Vicevich had the perfect response.

"Because I'd never ask my listeners do something I wouldn't do, I urge you all to volunteer to be a bell ringer. And I promise, that next year, I'm going to volunteer."

Right. We're all positive that you'll make good on that promise, Lieutenant Chickenhawk.

It ain't exactly paradise, but put up a parking lot, anyway

Just what Hartford needs. More parking lots. More pavement. Another grand genuflection to the car culture.

I'm sure Wallace Stevens would be spinning in his grave.

I mean, WTF. In another boneheaded move, the Hartford (insurance company) will tear down a beautiful old, still functioning, office building to create a parking lot.

Can you imagine this lot in Paris, or Vienna or Venice. There'd be plenty of places to park, but not much to visit.

Okay, strong mayor, whatcha gonna do?

Another wingnut vomits the contents of someone else's stomach

Guess who's blogging. Lieutenant Chickenhawk himself, WTIC's Jim Vicevich.

I guess it proves a few things:
- Vicevich doesn't have an original idea in his head
- Blogs are like assholes, everyone seems to have one
- Assholes are like blogs, it doesn't take an expert to create a pile of shit
- Like most right wingnuts, Vicevich deals in innuendo already proven false
- Like most right wingnuts, his sources are beyond ridiculous (Drudge, Powerline, the NY Post, the Washington Times)
- Like most wingnuts, he's willing to go with the innuendo, go with the unsubstantiated rumor, go with the White House press release
- That Vicevich is as dense as cyprus and as shallow as skim ice
- That this Chickenhawk is chickenshit - he doesn't allow comments on his site, not even moderated comments
- That he likely doesn't understand the irony in his blog title: Radio Vice Online (or that the term "online" is sooooo 1990's)
- That Vicevich has bought into the biggest myths of the Bush administration ("Love him or hate him, President Bush did not lie ... Read the following articles.")
- That he needs a little help with the resume, e.g. "With 6 Emmy nominations.." means the same thing as "never won an Emmy," doesn't it?
- That as a Christian, a smoker, a zealot, and one of the very few right-wing radio hosts, Vicevich feels persecuted in a blue state
- That he is "with it" on the whole "internets" thing

Good luck Jim. Pinocchio made it, though I can't cite a ventriloquist's dummy who ever found his own voice.

CIA CYA at the White House, pernicious and troubling

It's a shame that we have to hear news like this, and not be shocked and surprised. The White House involved in destroying evidence that might prove it culpable in war crimes? Well, of course not, there usual tactic is to declare it "classified" and thereby unable to be discussed, released or considered.

And the WH doesn't like the headlines, so they've responded with a carefully parsed release which calls the Times headline "pernicious and troubling." As if George Bush knew what "pernicious" means. So instead of addressing the main argument of the Times piece, that WH staff took part in discussions of destruction of evidence, they attack a sub-headline which implies that the WH "said" they knew less than they actually did.

It's another misdirection by the Bush crowd. The actions of guilty children..

Warming up to Edwards

Maybe it's the fact that CT Lieutenant Chickenhawk Jim Vicevich is haranguing Edwards today. Maybe, it's the consideration that Edwards isn't afraid to speak out against corporate power or for the underserved and the poor.

But probably, it's because Ralph Nader likes him amongst the frontrunners (though seeming to prefer Kucinich amongs the entire slate).

Maybe it's Edwards.

Dodd gets his due on Countdown

Chris Dodd gets praised for his courageous stand against FISA, immunity for telecoms, and Harry Reid.

Good for you Chris.

Waterboard, waterboard, morning noon and night, and what do we get?

Apparently not much of anything, but a reputation as a 21st century Spanish Inquisition.

Tomorrow, the return of the Caterwaul Holiday Special

Merry Triple-Xmas

Every year for 22, I've attempted to broadcast an atypical holiday show in my Wednesday morning slot.

This year will be no different. The rules are simple:

1. Try to avoid traditional holiday songs the likes of which you hear repeatedly when you stop to pump gas
2. Play any song which has a Christmas/solstice message, the more oblique, the better
3. Play Merry Christmas From the Family, at least twice

Smells like Florida, smells like Ohio, smells like Rove

Don Siegelman is a former Alabama governor who could be called a political prisoner. An early opponent of then governor George Bush's run for President, Siegelman lost his own re-election during an illegal Republican recount of votes in a single county.

Subsequently, Siegelman was prosecuted by a former Republican political rival connected to Karl Rove, and is now held in jail, incommunicado while his appeal is being prepared (but unable to be prepared because bureaucrats have help up the assembling of his trial transcripts.)

It can't happen here, eh.

Dodd makes a difference...FISA bill pulled

Just found out while watching Countdown on MSNBC. Thanks to Chris Dodd's efforts, the bill has been pulled by Harry Reid. Debate on the bill will resume next month.

Almost makes up for the shameful actions of Creepy Joe Lieberman.

Send Joe to Minneapolis

In a headline this morning Buzzflash raised a good question.

Will Creepy Joe Lieberman be allowed a spot in the Connecticut delegation at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008? And do the people of Connecticut have any say over it?

I say send Creepy Joe to Minnesota with the Republicans. And let Garrison Keillor make mincemeat of him.

Pogues tix for Boston and NY on sale now

I vowed I wouldn't go out of my way to see the Pogues after the Shane MacGowan no show in NY last year.

Still...

Pogues tickets on pre-sale.

All right, what exactly did you expect horse shit to smell like?

It's an old, old sprawl story. Suburbanites seeking the security of country living suddenly find themselves confronted with rural smells, sights or practices which may have been there for centuries, and now they want them to stop.

What's most odd about this story, is that Ron and Stephanie Borelli, own horses. So when they built a home adjacent to a horse farm, one would expect they would have known what they were getting into.

Apparently not. The Borelli's have sued their neighbors, the Hill Farm, and are now trying to get the town to stop the farm from holding horse shows on the property. The horse shows may violate Middletown's commercial zoning regulations.

Ron Borelli is a Republican member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Courant reports that Mayor Sebastian Giuliano is an ally in Borelli's fight with the Hill Farm. I guess if you want experts in horse shit, you could do worse than to consult a politician.

BTW, there is a monetary value to horse manure, that should not be overlooked in determining a solution to this problem. Not so sure about horse urine.