Bundy a hypocrite, not a patriot

[struggle4progress]

Posted: Sunday, May 4, 2014 6:00 am
BY APRIL KELLY-WOESSNER Correspondent

... In the decades during which his family grazed cattle on government land for free, Bundy did little to protest the government's claim of ownership. His current protest centers solely on the grazing fees put in place by the Reagan administration. If Cliven Bundy was a conscientious objector, honestly opposed to the federal ownership of Nevada land, he simply could have kept his cattle on his own land. Of course, this would inconvenience him and cut into his profits. That is what really motivates Cliven Bundy's actions — profit.

The Bundys have tried to frame the debate as a state rights issue. According to Cliven's son, Ammon, his father's refusal to pay grazing fees is due to the belief that the state, and not the federal government, is the legitimate owner of the land. The claim is absurd on many levels, the most important being that the state of Nevada does not claim the land and surrendered it to the federal government as a condition of statehood. Cliven Bundy takes the claim even further, arguing that he "does not even recognize that the federal government exists."

Ironically, the state of Nevada recognizes the federal government, gives deference to it, and believes it has the right to use force to enforce its laws. Section 2 of the Nevada state Constitution states: The Constitution of the United States confers full power on the Federal Government to maintain and Perpetuate its existence, and whensoever any portion of the States, or people thereof attempt to secede from the Federal Union, or forcibly resist the Execution of its laws, the Federal Government may, by warrant of the Constitution, employ armed force in compelling obedience to its Authority ...

Is Cliven Bundy a patriot? He isn't even close. He's an opportunist, using conservative rhetoric in an attempt to rally support for his unlawful behavior. A patriot makes personal sacrifices for principle and the greater good. Bundy does no such thing. He breaks the law for self-interest and personal gain. Worse yet, Bundy's words and actions reveal he suffers from a sense of deluded entitlement. He believes public lands are somehow owed to him. He believes he shouldn't have to pay the same fees as every other rancher. He takes public resources for private gain ...

http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/bundy-a-hypocrite-not-a-patriot/article_584b11ac-d07a-11e3-9a74-0017a43b2370.html

[monmouth3]

1. The National Guard should pull in there and let them know, in no uncertain terms, who is the boss..

[HooptieWagon]

2. Thats one way to handle it.

Bundy's militia is itching for a fight, though. NG would prevail, of course, but some NG casualties would likely occur. And Bundy's miliria would be viewed as "martyrs" by the wingnuts.

Another plan would be to cut off routes to food and water supplies. Cut off power. Stop their SS and disability checks. Starve them out, let the triple digit temp do the hard work. Yes, the militia will start fighting each other over a dwindling food and water supply, but they'll be viewed as incompetent loony tunes rather than martyrs. Soon enough, the survivors will surrender... an air-conditioned jail with 3 squares a day will sound pretty appealing.

[JayhawkSD]

3. He believes the state, not the federal gov't, owns the land.

So is he paying grazing fees to the state? No, I thought not.