homeland security

I am told that I must show up with my background and security forms filled out. I am also told I will arrive and not be allowed to enter the work area for 3 or 4 or 5 days while they run my finger prints. While this seems excessive for planning and preservation work, it is in reality a very good idea. It has not received much media attention, but terrorists and communists have been infiltrating the American Planning Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. What could they do, you ask? Compare these scenarios.

Scenario One:
Good Planner - Based on our analysis of opportunities and threats, our sticky note exercise and voting with multicolored dots, I think you should probably not put the school or other important buildings below sea level.
Citizen Stakeholder - While that sounds logical, we are going to ignore you and put the school on the below sea level lot because the mayor's brother owns the land and wants to sell it to the government at a high markup. Thanks for providing such good food at the meetings.

Scenario Two:
Evil Planner - The nuclear power plant should be built right by the weakest levee.
Citizen Stakeholder - Are you sure?
Evil Planner - Yes, they taught me about this in Planning school. Having a nuclear power plant will create electron magnetic fields that will hold the levee in place.
Citizen Planner - OK, sounds good to me.

Scenario Three
Good Preservationist: Here is my report. I have spent weeks researching this building. It has much historic value and has a high degree of integrity. We should try not to destroy it when we rebuild.
Citizen Stakeholder: Thanks for telling me that. I will probably ignore your advice, but it was nice of you to put so many pretty pictures in your report.

Scenario Four:
Evil preservationist: This cinder block monstrosity must be preserved at all costs.
Citizen Stakeholder: This is an ugly gas station. It is already destroyed by the hurricanes.
Evil Preservationist: It does not matter if it is ugly, it was built 50 years ago and is a great example of concrete masonry construction and is associated with an early pioneer of automobile fuel dispensing. It is eligible for the local, state and national register under criterion B and D. It must be saved.
Citizen Stakeholder: OK, I guess we will have to reroute the highway and destroy the remaining wetlands in the state.