Reef Dawg
Full Member
Re: Should the State "Preserve" Shipwrecks for future study?
I spent the better part of (15) years litigating against government projects, wrongful policies and governmental agencies that abuse their legislative authority to circumvent due process and Florida Statutes. In that time, I proved time and again that one person, truly can make a difference. Think if there was a collective body of us with the same objectives in mind.
Now, if we take the Treasure Salvage Industry (private) here in our State and put together a collective mind for it, we can stop these progressive actions and protect our livelihoods. But, it must be proactive, not reactive. We, must make the first moves, and those moves must be legal challenges at every fork in the road. As they (government agencies) have structures that accomplish their agendas, so must we. Here are some of my suggestions. Take them for what their worth, but I for one, would be willing to "step up to the plate" to see them to fruition.
1) Formulate and launch vigorous legal challenges to the current state of affairs relating to government's interference with free enterprise and the recovery and preservation of historic shipwreck sites.
2) Media - Media - Media. We must purchase time on radio, television and print anywhere and everywhere we can. Most can be secured for free, and it's the only way to effectively combat the misinformation brought forth by the opposing sides.
3) Form a clearing house of legal and public information gathered from domestic and international private interests relating to our industry. There truly is power in information.
4) Create a central body (organization) whose sole purpose is to litigate the protections of our industry.
5) Raise monies through grants, donations and other mediums to finance our efforts. I personally know of very effective means by which to do this and have funded much of my litigating efforts by securing them without much effort.
These are just a few ideas (proven), and there are many more that I'm sure all of you can suggest.
We must stop talking about these things and take a stance. Every expert in the State of Florida bet against Mel Fisher, but he stood fast, held his ground and prevailed. We must learn by example and do the same.
By one we stand alone, but in many, we stand together.
I spent the better part of (15) years litigating against government projects, wrongful policies and governmental agencies that abuse their legislative authority to circumvent due process and Florida Statutes. In that time, I proved time and again that one person, truly can make a difference. Think if there was a collective body of us with the same objectives in mind.
Now, if we take the Treasure Salvage Industry (private) here in our State and put together a collective mind for it, we can stop these progressive actions and protect our livelihoods. But, it must be proactive, not reactive. We, must make the first moves, and those moves must be legal challenges at every fork in the road. As they (government agencies) have structures that accomplish their agendas, so must we. Here are some of my suggestions. Take them for what their worth, but I for one, would be willing to "step up to the plate" to see them to fruition.
1) Formulate and launch vigorous legal challenges to the current state of affairs relating to government's interference with free enterprise and the recovery and preservation of historic shipwreck sites.
2) Media - Media - Media. We must purchase time on radio, television and print anywhere and everywhere we can. Most can be secured for free, and it's the only way to effectively combat the misinformation brought forth by the opposing sides.
3) Form a clearing house of legal and public information gathered from domestic and international private interests relating to our industry. There truly is power in information.
4) Create a central body (organization) whose sole purpose is to litigate the protections of our industry.
5) Raise monies through grants, donations and other mediums to finance our efforts. I personally know of very effective means by which to do this and have funded much of my litigating efforts by securing them without much effort.
These are just a few ideas (proven), and there are many more that I'm sure all of you can suggest.
We must stop talking about these things and take a stance. Every expert in the State of Florida bet against Mel Fisher, but he stood fast, held his ground and prevailed. We must learn by example and do the same.
By one we stand alone, but in many, we stand together.
