What is Freedom???? Are we really free???

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

Well it is the ability and right to live our life as we want to with out the government deciding it for us. The sad thing is that too many do not seem to mind having someone else make their choices for them anymore. So slowly over the years the government has taken more control away from the people a little bit at a time. You can't do this or than without some government nut job telling you what YOU can do anymore.

An example of this is the fact I want to build a second dwelling on this property. Just a garage finished like a "Grand mother's" apartment. I do not like my Wife being alone during the day if I am gone. We have grand kids that could use the apartment while finishing college or working after college. Then later when our health fails it maybe where we live as it would be a level floor plan an easier to get around in with a walker or wheel chair. Then when we are gone it would just be striped of a few walls and there would be a two car garage for the future owners. I own this free and clear but the county says I can't put a second dwelling on any parcel smaller than 40 acres without their "approval". I did not see their name on the deed or mortgage when I bought this place. Just creeping communism to me.

The Greatest Generation built a great country that was better off when they left it. The baby boomers that followed did not do as good of job. I guess we are too much of an entitlement generation where our parents want and felt they should "earn" things themselves. The current generation is even worse than we where. The want everything provided by the government: food, housing, health care an all this for Free!!!

Pretty soon we will have very little freedom left. Did our forefather's have to asked to build a shanty when they settled much of this state??? There would have been open warfare if the government had tried to regulate prior generations like they do us now. We are becoming a nation of sheep blindly following the
rules" others say are "right/correct".

Buster · Jul 4, 2015

It's a sad day in America when 9 men that were Not voted into office make a decision that all of us will have to live with.

casenut1 · Jul 4, 2015

Amen.

55 50 Ron · Jul 4, 2015

I agree. Some how we have to get it across to those who THINK EVERYTHING THAT IS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT IS FREE, that it is really their money (that the government has already taken from them) that is providing these "benefits" and the "benefits" really aren't free.

James Howell · Jul 4, 2015

Agree.

Even sadder that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/26/supreme-court-gay-marriage_n_7470036.html">three of the men were women</a>.

SweetFeet · Jul 4, 2015

JD Seller,

On you tube, look up the song Another Freedom Bites the Dust. You will like it.

I agree with what you say above - and though I disagree with so much of what is happening here... I do still love our land and respect our flag and appreciate all those who fought for it.

Bill(Wis) · Jul 4, 2015

When people experience bad times, or perceive that to be the case, they turn to socialism. Socialism was a strong movement during the depression. That brought FDR to power. It also brought out the "Norman Thomas Socialists". Henry A Wallace was deemed by many to lean left and "Cactus Jack" bit the dust. Socialism was never that strong again, but it is raising its ugly head once more.

LAA · Jul 4, 2015

Most of the problem is that the money was not taken from those lapping it up, it was taken from makers to buy the votes of takers.

ss55 · Jul 4, 2015

Actually, in Iowa, Minnesota and most of the upper Midwest west of the Mississippi our forefathers did need to get the governments permission to start a homestead. The land was purchased from France by the US government in the Louisiana Purchase. The Federal government surveyed and marked the land them sold it to railroads and settlers under the homestead act, at near giveaway prices. Without the Federal government the upper Midwest would not be part of the U.S.A today.

I wouldn't get too excited about having to comply with building codes. They are intended to protect future buyers from unscrupulous builders. Meeting codes helps your property value when you sell. Unless you intend to tear a building down before you sell a property, there is little reason not to build to code, and that starts with a building permit.

Mark-Mi · Jul 4, 2015

JD Seller, you know why your county implemented such zoning. It stopped land owners from selling off as many house lots as they wanted. I imagine it has stopped the building of homes out in the agricultural areas as well there as it did here when it was put in affect in my area in the 1970's. You know as well as I what happens when city folk move to the country and their numbers increase to their is more of them than farmers.

I suspect after a round with the board of review you will be able to build because of not taking anymore land out of production. Build a case of hardship with wife's medical condition and it will fly through.

David G · Jul 4, 2015

I do not really like those zonings either, but think they were put in place at the request of farmers in most places to keep the price of farmland affordable and prevent encroachment.

John T · Jul 4, 2015

Geeeeeeeeeeee whiz I told you all so lol I posted a polite response and in it I noted I was was a Christian and would stand up for my beliefs AND SURE ENOUGH IT GOT POOFED INSTANTLY

Oh well, I tried and am NEVER going to denounce my faith regardless

God Bless the USA

John T Christian Conservative Patriot

Hurry before I get poofed

John T PS · Jul 4, 2015

Sorry, I take it back, my bad. My post is still down below, I thought this was the same topic grrrrrrrrrrrr Silly Me

John T

David G · Jul 4, 2015

John T, you never should denounce it.

Frank41 · Jul 4, 2015

Over 150 executive orders from the previous administration eliminated many of our freedoms.

bill mart · Jul 4, 2015

A little while ago someone on here posted "If you think you own your house and property stop paying taxes on it and see how long you own it for". pretty true if you stop and think about it. Bill

WGM · Jul 4, 2015

How many from this one?

JMS/.MN · Jul 4, 2015

JDS- just curious if your county is like ours.....allows one dwelling per 40 acres, but if we own the adjacent 40, we can "slide" its building entitlement so we can build two dwellings on one 40, then the second 40 stays in farm land forever. That allowed our son and daughter to build houses on one 40. On another quarter-section farm we sold off the farmstead, so have 3 other entitlements available. It"s our intention to slide those 3 to a wooded area, leaving one field of 119 acres to remain farm land.

Russ from MN · Jul 4, 2015

It's the cost of living in a prosperous nation, If you don't like it, move to Greece, They don't like to pay taxes there, how is that working for them?

Russ from MN · Jul 4, 2015

What does Nancy think about comments like that?

55 50 Ron · Jul 4, 2015

Yes you are certainly correct on that. I didn't think my entry through well enough. Thanks for your addition.

M-MAN · Jul 4, 2015

John T;
It's nice to know at least one lawyer will make it in. I'll meet you there old friend.

Bret4207 · Jul 4, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:33:02 07/04/15) Over 150 executive orders from the previous administration eliminated many of our freedoms.

The difference is the press is was all over the other guy for everything he did. But the same press gives the current guy a free pass on the 202 Executive Orders (as of 01/15/15) he's signed...and little things like Benghazi!

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

You do not get it. They will not allow a anything over 1200 square feet and even then it is limited to family members only and you have to report who is living there every year to the county. I own this ground and it is no ones business who or what I do with it.

LarryH · Jul 4, 2015

obammy is do all he can to end americas freedom and soon

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

JMS/MN: you can do that here. The trouble is where this house is I just own an acreage. It is surrounded by farm land. The adjoining land owner does not care if I would build an additional dwelling. He would sign off. What really steams me is the building board is made up of all real estate people. They exempt ground their families own for development all of the time. One farm has fifteen building lots on it. I do not even want to add a lot. Just a 24x32 building.

Spook · Jul 4, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:11:09 07/04/15) You do not get it. They will not allow a anything over 1200 square feet and even then it is limited to family members only and you have to report who is living there every year to the county. I own this ground and it is no ones business who or what I do with it.

I don't understand the reporting requirements. In this township, the minimum house size is 1600 sq feet. Who lives in it is irrelevant. Are you trying to get around the permit process or is there a tax angle involved?

Animal · Jul 4, 2015

I agree with you, but what just really makes me angry is everyone crying and no one doing anything about it. Last years election here [where no one is happy with our governing bodies] every stinking incumbant was reelected.This makes me ask the question, do people really want change?

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

The current law only allows one dwelling per each forty acre parcel. I want to build additional temporary living quarters in the form of a two car detached garage. That will revert to a garage when we are gone. We have to have a building variance from the county building board. They will not give one for anything over 1200 square foot of floor size. Then there is the reporting requirement. They want it to be limited to family only forever. IF you do not report they void the exemption and then fine you so much per day until you remove the dwelling or make it unlivable.

This has nothing to do with property taxes. It is the right to build what I want on my OWN ground. The building board turned down my application. My options are to appeal to the same board and then sue after that.

A friend bought a farm in Dubuque county. He and his brother own the farm together. The house is back a long lane and they want to build a second house back the lane for the other brother. Dubuque County turned it down. They appealed and had to sue. They currently have over $30K in legal bills and it looks like it is going to the state supreme court.

I HATE zoning laws!!!! I am not talking about building codes for safety, just zoning laws restricting owners use of their property. If you want to control what is done on a property than buy it and control it. DO not have some crooked board telling me or you what to do.

I am not in town, The neighbors do not care if I build. I even had letters stating that as fact to the board. They went on and on about how they did not want there to be any rental units like this in the country. IT is not a rental. Even if I did want to rent it, it is not their business to tell me what I can do with my own property.

The whole board is all real estate guys. They really do not want you building anywhere other than where THEY have a cut of the action for lots. One of the board members son bought a farm a few miles west of me on a paved county road. HE got a exemption to divide the farm into 15 building lots. They are around ten acre parcels. He gave $10k per acre for the farm and he is selling the lots for $20K per acre. Sound rigged to you????

bison · Jul 4, 2015

(quoted from post at 17:03:57 07/04/15) The current law only allows one dwelling per each forty acre parcel. I want to build additional temporary living quarters in the form of a two car detached garage. That will revert to a garage when we are gone. We have to have a building variance from the county building board. They will not give one for anything over 1200 square foot of floor size. Then there is the reporting requirement. They want it to be limited to family only forever. IF you do not report they void the exemption and then fine you so much per day until you remove the dwelling or make it unlivable.

This has nothing to do with property taxes. It is the right to build what I want on my OWN ground. The building board turned down my application. My options are to appeal to the same board and then sue after that.

A friend bought a farm in Dubuque county. He and his brother own the farm together. The house is back a long lane and they want to build a second house back the lane for the other brother. Dubuque County turned it down. They appealed and had to sue. They currently have over $30K in legal bills and it looks like it is going to the state supreme court.

I HATE zoning laws!!!! I am not talking about building codes for safety, just zoning laws restricting owners use of their property. If you want to control what is done on a property than buy it and control it. DO not have some crooked board telling me or you what to do.

I am not in town, The neighbors do not care if I build. I even had letters stating that as fact to the board. They went on and on about how they did not want there to be any rental units like this in the country. IT is not a rental. Even if I did want to rent it, it is not their business to tell me what I can do with my own property.

[b:3ced02d486]The whole board is all real estate guys. They really do not want you building anywhere other than where THEY have a cut of the action for lots. One of the board members son bought a farm a few miles west of me on a paved county road. HE got a exemption to divide the farm into 15 building lots. They are around ten acre parcels. He gave $10k per acre for the farm and he is selling the lots for $20K per acre. Sound rigged to you????[/b:3ced02d486]

Sounds like you'll have get yourself elected on the board and push for changes

Hay hay hay · Jul 4, 2015

If you don't want any government, then just let a bunch of druggies build a meth lab 30 feet from your house and see who you call? It is their property, none of your business. Their freedoms. Until it threatens my grandkids....?

Be realistic. We all need realistic laws against life and health threatening actions by our neighbors.

JD Seller everyone has a personal view of zoning laws. Put the shoe on the other foot.

ss55 · Jul 4, 2015

You're right, I don't follow what you are trying to do.

Gathering bits and pieces from your post and your replies it sounds like you want to build a second residence on a lot zoned for single family residences. The structure will be a "live-in garage" with over over 1200 square foot of living space on a 24 x 36 (864 sq ft) foundation (two story or three story?), without applying for any building permits or following any building codes you don't agree with? Are you trying to avoid installing a septic field for the second residence?

David G · Jul 4, 2015

It must be Dubuque county, I can build a second residence on my home 40.

Gary H. · Jul 4, 2015

I'd just build the 2 car garage like you're wanting too. Just run water to it and make provisions at a later date to do to it what you want. If they see you parking a truck in it they might forget about it.

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

Hay hay hay: I would have bough the property 30 feet from me. That is a freedom too. If they are making meth then that is a law enforcement issue that should be handled that way. If it just them having junk cars and a messy yard then it is no ones business unless they want to buy it and change the level of care.

We should not be able to force our views on others if all are legal.

FBH44 · Jul 4, 2015

Zoning regulations. BUT BUT, there is most always a variance process, as far as i know. Apply for a variance, and carefully and politely and take all the time you want, but explain it to them. Slowly.

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

David I am in Jones here. I only have five acres with this house. Still plenty of room for what I want and the neighbors do not mind.

gtractorfan · Jul 4, 2015

My dad told me that his dad -my granddad- said when social security started it was a big mistake. I think that's where this started. Politicians know they can get votes when they give free stuff. We're getting more and more people who will vote for free stuff rather than work for it. We're on the same path as Greece. In their last election they again voted for free stuff when the writing was on the wall.

Spudm · Jul 4, 2015

We are never 100% free…but one can always increase their freedom with a simpler lifestyle.

Hay hay hay · Jul 4, 2015

I have owned rural property in several states and the zoning varies widely from county to county within most states. I learned long ago that the property values were the lowest in the counties with no or minimal zoning rules. Those low property values and minimal rules attract modern day squatters.
That element tends to deflect other higher level buyers, thus keeping property values low. Most people choose not to build a fancy house next to a shanty.

In a "no zoning" county people have every right to live in a junk yard, and many people are attracted to that environment. But, if I buy land in an area that prohibits junk yards, I expect it to be enforced. Most people want the higher property value benefits of zoning, but not the enforcement. They are always asking for exceptions (read the local paper for variance requests)
I carefully chose to purchase and live in an area with restrictions and strict enforcement of zoning laws ( and paid dearly for it with very high per acre costs), but even so, some citizens always want to live without rules.

These people love the higher property values,and brag about their net worth, but still don't want the rules that made it possible, to apply to them.

People that live in the wild wild west, should get to enjoy the benefits and the penalties of the wild wild west. Some people like to live with out zoning rules and there are plenty of places to enjoy that freedom.

But I don't want to live there, and that is my freedom!

JOB · Jul 4, 2015

I realized a long time ago that people in this country do not own real estate. we rent it from the county. I pay bi yearly rent to the county every year.Every year they raise the rent. Part of that rent might go to the state.????????

David G · Jul 4, 2015

Linn would not let you do that on 5 acres

Can you split it into a 3 and a 2?

LAA · Jul 4, 2015

So far it has worked pretty good for the greeks but not so well for the germans who are footing the bills, the same as in the US where the 45% of ''makers'' pay the freight for themselves plus the 55% of ''takers''. Greece has long had more people on the government payroll and pension system than working in the private sector and the system long ago reached critical mass. News flash, the abundant utopias of Chigaco Ill, San Fran CA. and New York NY. to name a few, are all greeces in the making except they will all have much higher debts and wreak much more havoc on the US and world economies when they go belly up.

Mark - IN. · Jul 4, 2015

Umm...Greece is hardly nearly $19,000,000,000,000 in debt. What happened in Greece is small potatos compared to here. Its kind of a funny thing that a day or two ago, it was said that our nation added 236,000 jobs at the same time over 400,000 became jobless. When I went to school, 236,000 minus 400,000 equals negative 164,000 jobs, but somehow unemployment went down from 5.5% to 5.3%. According to our Dept of labor statistics, currently the labor participation rate just increased to 37.2% of employable age that are not working, the highest percentage of not working that its been in 36 years...but somehow, the unemployment just dropped to 5.3%. Go figure. Greece was just unable to pay back $8.1 Billion in debt, and we ARE nearing $19 TRILLION in debt. Our GDP is at 2.2%. Use Greece as an example? Really?

Mark

Cory Schmidt · Jul 4, 2015

IF they'd get rid of half of the "agencies" that are in the government, that are basically useless, then we'd get a lot more freedom back( and save thousands of dollars in taxes). Couple that with people who parents always gave in( when kid wants something they get it), and politicians with big,deep pockets. The people want everything for nothing, and get it per gov. dealing with big business. In short the nation is in a downward spiral and going fast.

Spook · Jul 4, 2015

(quoted from post at 19:53:19 07/04/15) So far it has worked pretty good for the greeks but not so well for the germans who are footing the bills, the same as in the US where the 45% of ''makers'' pay the freight for themselves plus the 55% of ''takers''. Greece has long had more people on the government payroll and pension system than working in the private sector and the system long ago reached critical mass. News flash, the abundant utopias of Chigaco Ill, San Fran CA. and New York NY. to name a few, are all greeces in the making except they will all have much higher debts and wreak much more havoc on the US and world economies when they go belly up.

A big problem in Greece, ( and southern Europe ) is the lack of tax enforcement. In Greece, over 85% of the income is in the underground economy. Tax evasion is at a level of national sport!

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2015

SS55 this is not a traditional building lot it is the house and buildings out of a farm. It was split out forty years ago. The current farm owner is fine with me building a temporary residence, I have no issues with health laws example: septic system, or building codes such as wiring and structure requirements. The only shared things would be electric and water. I had a 300 amp service panel put in years ago thinking about a separate 100 amp service for a shop. That would instead go the garage/living area. The well has more than enough flow and size for more usage.

I am wanting to build a 24x36 two car detached garage. Framed like a normal garage would be. Then just enclose the door openings with windows for now. Then lay a sub floor over the concrete floor. Then put in one central wall with two stub walls. Making a front kitchen/living area and two bedrooms and a bath in the back half. This building from the outside would look like a detached garage just without the two overhead doors. To me this is just a good way for us to have someone around for my wife currently. Then later I could easily live there if I have mobility issues. Then after we no longer need this additional room, the walls and flooring could be took out an overhead doors installed. So future owners are not saddled with a second living area that has little sue for them.

This is better than me tearing down a perfectly good century old house just because it does not "fit" the future uses I see us needing.

The frustrating part is this. There are zero deed restrictions on this property. I am clearly out in the county. So it is not part of any subdivision plat or plan. I am even outside of the city limit restrictions that Cascade could enforce. I can build any size of building I want to as long as no one lives in it. So I can build a 80x300 storage shed and there is zero issues. I want to build a small living area an it is a BIG issue!!!!

I started out married life living in a small converted shed 50 feet behind my Grand Father's house. That would be illegal in this county now. We lived there for almost four years. Then later on my Grand Mother lived there after we bought the farm. That building is still on the home farm. I bet that it is illegal under the "new" laws.

01gentdc · Jul 4, 2015

My pastor summed it up this way serveral yrs ago on a 4th of july sermon ,,. real freedom occursand is enjoyed when everyone does the right things as best they can to follow Gods commandments ... the modern world,,, imho,...has perverted freedom to mean no responsibility for actions that infringe on others rights , and so many other social ills that are born from the idea .. its fun , lets do it

01gentdc · Jul 4, 2015

40 acres and 1 house will eat up a lot of good farmland . and only rich dum yuppies will be your neighbors , instead of small family farmers ..You Sir ,. JD Seller ,NEED TO GET APPOINTED to the planning and Zonin brd,,.at the very least .. you probably don't want another thing to do ,,, but your county residents and country need people of your caliber and wisdom to step up and lead us thru these bad rules,,. or better yet run and get elected and serve as a county commissioner ,,. it aint hard to do ,,.I did it , so you can too ,.. it is rewarding ,, especially when you have a great mtg of minds with good dept heads that after working with you a year , are making the changes that need to be done ,,. I am currently a county council member,.,. and have been in county gov in some way since 2002 ..

Greg1959 · Jul 4, 2015

:lol: :lol: :lol:

37chief · Jul 4, 2015

I went to the city to split the land my Mom left my brother and myself. By the time I got it split, I spent more money than one would believe. Engineers, contractors, new city roads. It just went on and on. All I wanted to do was split the land as per Mom's will. Something wrong there. Dad could have done the same thing 45 years ago in one day, with a simple one page map. stan

Greg1959 · Jul 4, 2015

01gentdc- Are you serious or is this sarcasm?

MarkB_MI · Jul 5, 2015

You use the term "communism" quite loosely. I doubt there are any actual communists left in your entire state (save maybe a couple of grey-haired poly-sci professors in Ames), let alone on your local zoning board. [i:654c4848f0]Das Kapital[/i:654c4848f0] is remarkably neutral on the subject of zoning laws.

The folks behind the zoning ordinances you're railing about got them passed for one reason: To preserve their own wealth by stopping others from bringing down real estate values. A worthy capitalist goal. Just because you disagree with something doesn't make it communism.

Hay hay hay · Jul 5, 2015

Or as is so often said but seldom really carefully considered:

"Your freedom to swing your fist....ends at my chin"

NoNewParts · Jul 5, 2015

do what all the old 'snowbirds' do here.
Big motorhome, always road licensed and insured....and taken for a drive once in a great while....
Parked on the cement slab with power pole and meter...
(gotta keep the batteries charged and other things ya know)
When they come up for the summer (fly).......they are living in the relatives house.....right? lol...ya right.

in your case...build your garage all legal like...then park the motorhome in it...LOL

Blackhole49 · Jul 5, 2015

Like it or not, zoning laws do protest property values. I certainly would not like someone living next to me do what you are proposing if they are zoned for a single family residence. How many additional dwellings should be allowed?

coonie minnie · Jul 5, 2015

JD-

Have you applied for a variance? Usually there is a procedure. And if it is as simple as you say, it would probably be granted.

2nd houses on the same lot get to be a problem down the road with zoning boards, because frequently someone in the future wants to split the lot in two in order to sell someone the second house, and then there is only one septic, electric service, etc.

If you don't like the system in your neighborhood, change it! I did. Nearly 10 years ago I ran for election in our township, which is urbanizing, over a zoning dispute. I won by a 4-1 margin. It's one thing to complain about losing your freedoms, its another to DO something about it. I think you will find once elected, it is a lot more complicated than you would imagine.

From what I've seen in WI, it's a lot easier to do what you want from a farming standpoint (especially large livestock) in areas that have zoning than those that have none. Zoning allows you to do certain things, like add on the feedlot etc. Those in areas with no zoning have faced a lot of opposition, close to violence, lawsuits, appearances at the state capitol, etc. Those in areas with zoning have had, for the most part, an easier time. There is a roadmap.

Good luck with all this.

01gentdc · Jul 5, 2015

serious as a heart attack ,,, around these parts like the ol song says ,../ you got to stand for sumthin or you will fall for anything...

What is Freedom???? Are we really free???

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