Capabilities and the Obama Administration Roadmap to Power

Timothy Birdnow

On Friday the Obama Administration issued an executive order - the National Defense Resources Preparedness Order - which updates some critical aspects of emergency preparedness.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness

At the end of this order Obama revokes executive orders from 1988.

This appears to be just a housekeeping measure, an update to previous contingency planning, and it may be exactly that. But there are a few troubling aspects to it. I went through the document and have picked out the more worrisome provisions.

Sec 104 D:

(2) perform industry analyses to assess capabilities of the industrial base to support the national defense, and develop policy recommendations to improve the international competitiveness of specific domestic industries and their abilities to meet national defense program needs.

End

While this sounds benign it could be used to place industry in the grip of government. What exactly constitutes national defense? "Green" Technology?


Sec 201

(1) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to food resources, food resource facilities, livestock resources, veterinary resources, plant health resources, and the domestic distribution of farm equipment and commercial fertilizer;

(2) the Secretary of Energy with respect to all forms of energy;

(3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to health resources;

(4) the Secretary of Transportation with respect to all forms of civil transportation;

(5) the Secretary of Defense with respect to water resources; and

(6) the Secretary of Commerce with respect to all other materials, services, and facilities, including construction materials.

(b) The Secretary of each agency delegated authority under subsection (a) of this section (resource departments) shall plan for and issue regulations to prioritize and allocate resources and establish standards and procedures by which the authority shall be used to promote the national defense, under both emergency and non-emergency conditions. Each Secretary shall authorize the heads of other agencies, as appropriate, to place priority ratings on contracts and orders for materials, services, and facilities needed in support of programs approved under section 202 of this order.

End

Well, well, well! If I were trying to create a totalitarian state I would target those exact industries. Regular readers have read my chronicles of government encroachment on the agricultural sector, and know that I am of the opinion that our government is trying to nationalize the farming community. Please note that the Ag Secretary is given considerable authority over all aspects of agriculture.

See my articles here http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/38392, here http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/28881 and here http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/23222

Sec. 601

(1) collect and maintain data necessary to make a continuing appraisal of the Nation's workforce needs for purposes of national defense;

(2) upon request by the Director of Selective Service, and in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, assist the Director of Selective Service in development of policies regulating the induction and deferment of persons for duty in the armed services;

(5) develop and implement an effective labor management relations policy to support the activities and programs under this order, with the cooperation of other agencies as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Labor, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the National Mediation Board, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

End

Soooo, they want a huge collection of data on the nation's workforce "needs". What that means is collecting data on the average Joe. And it should be troubling that Selective Services is tasked with developing new policies regulating the induction of persons into armed duty. Why, it's almost as if they were preparing for a draft.

And what of that section 5? Obama has been in bed with Big Labor far more than any President in memory, and this suggests he is considering expanding the highly politicized NLRB. Is this a political blueprint to force the unionization of many non-union industries?

What does this Order do? It seems to put into place the framework to nationalize large swaths of American industry, and to make it possible to impose martial law. Under any other President one would be reluctant to believe that is the point, but this Administration is unlike any we have ever witnessed.

In military terms one does not look at intentions but capabilities; does the enemy have the capability to threaten. If we apply that standard here we must look at this document with trepidation, because it certainly sets up government control of important aspects of our lives and of our liberties.

We KNOW the intentions of this Administration; they believe in state power, in government regulation and control, in "fundamental change" of society by fiat. We know the revolutionaries who hold sway in this Adminsitration - Cass Sunstein (whose recent book "Nudge" advocates government compulsion to force the citizenry to behave as the leades see fit), Van Jones, David Axlerod, etc.

And the aspects being targeted here are the most critical points that guarantee a free people. Food, energy (heat, lights, etc.) water, transportation. Control these and you control the populace. You can nudge them as you like, and they will accept it because they HAVE to have these things.

This document is but another aspect of the Administration's efforts to sew up the material heart of the nation. It may not be a revolutionary takeover, but it certainly gives the capabilities to the President and his radical cadre.