The Anti-Government Extremism Behind the Movement to Seize Public Lands

[L. Coyote]

Going to Extremes: The Anti-Government Extremism Behind the Growing Movement to Seize America’s Public Lands

The 2016 armed standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon provided the American public with a ringside seat to a disturbing trend on U.S. public lands: extremist and militia groups using America’s national forests, parks, monuments, and wildlife refuges to advance their anti-government beliefs.

But these far right-wing organizations are not operating in a vacuum. To the contrary, the armed insurrection in Oregon and Nevada before—led by Ammon Bundy and the Bundy family—share the same foundations as land transfer schemes promoted by some elected leaders in states throughout the West. Both rely upon a philosophy based in vehement anti-government ideologies, both have connections to organizations that espouse armed resistance, both employ pseudo-legal theories to justify their actions, and both use scholarly support from conspiracy theorists and discredited academics.

.... over the last four years, politicians and special interest groups in 11 Western states and in Congress have tried to seize many of these places and turn them over to state and private control.

The elected officials supporting state seizure of U.S. public lands couch their arguments carefully, but our research shows their close associations to extreme individuals, groups, and ideology characterized by anti-government paranoia and a pseudo-science approach to the law.

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[tonyt53]

1. That bunch wants to take things back to the days of the range wars.

The cattle barons had their own armies.

[L. Coyote]

2. Actually, they want ALL the oil, gas, timber, and best mansion sites. Trillions of $$$$$

[L. Coyote]

3. Editorial: Utah ensures land-transfer lawyers win even if they lose

Editorial: Utah ensures land-transfer lawyers win even if they lose

If we think $14 million is reasonable for the cost of the federal lands-transfer lawsuit, why should we question a $69 lunch from one lawyer?

A watchdog group called the Campaign for Accountability has been looking at expense reports coming in to the state's Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands, the panel of legislators overseeing the lawsuit.

And what they found is high-priced, out-of-state lawyers doing their thing: first-class flights and the finest hotels and restaurants, all apparently expensed to the state. One guy showed up at the Alta Club on Saturday for his Tuesday meeting, and his meals included the $69 lunch, $21 of which was the bar tab. Record keeping is unclear whether that bar tab included alcohol, which is not a reimbursable expense under Utah law. Here's betting he wasn't washing down his meal with Shirley Temples.

The lawyers could empty out the Grand America minibars every time they're in town, and it still wouldn't be the biggest waste in this endeavor. Their lavish expenses will never top even $1 million of that $14 million.

The state has already allocated the first $4.5 million, and at least $900,000 has already been spent. ...............

[L. Coyote]

4. morning kick

[G_j]

5. of great concern nt