Bob Tiberio says fractivists have been practicing what is, in effect, mob rule in their attempts to impose their will on towns and states. They don’t always win but where they it is a corruption of what our nation’s founders wrought.

Anti-gas activists (fractivists) have claimed hard-working town boards across the Southern Tier that support natural gas development, or wish to wait for state guidance, are ignoring the wishes of the “majority.” I have witnessed them lecture my elected town officials – demanding a referendum on “drilling,” whispering about voter ballot initiatives to stop it, hinting at recall (alleging “dereliction of duty”), and claiming their petition drive demonstrates majority support for a drilling ban.

But, a petition is hardly a measure of majority support, and debt-ridden towns can ill afford to conduct costly referenda. In addition, New York does not allow voter originated initiatives. The real goal of these fractivists is to intimidate town boards in hopes that they will pass moratoria or bans, and as a bonus, scare off natural gas companies with the prospect of unworkable “home rule”, all the while draping themselves in democracy.

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