"The mud puddle preservation plan"

Terence Jeffrey is writing today about those mysterious addenda to "wetlands" that have been named "vernal pools." They are among the many apples of the environmentalist eye, and quite naturally involve much serious invalidation of what Americans once, rather folkishly, referred to as "private property." Yes, indeed, private property has become a rather arcane concern, here, there, everywhere.

I don't think that Jeffrey is being very sensitive in his account, and I'm tempted to report him to Reactionary Watch (an umbrella organization I've just invented) for suggesting that homes might be of greater value than vernal pools.