Republicans Channel the Bundys With Federal-Land Bill

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Say what you will about Utah’s delegation to the House of Representatives, they don’t negotiate with insurrectionists, terrorists or common criminals. They waited a whole month after a group of armed fanatics seized control of federal lands in Oregon, threatening to kill federal or local law officers, before they gleefully took on the criminal gang’s demands as their own cause.

The four Republicans who represent Utah in the House introduced a bill last week that would stop the federal government from enforcing federal law on federal lands (including those designated as wildlife refuges or national parks) and turn control over to state and local law enforcement. They want to give the local folks federal money to police the federal lands, which is the cause that the Bundy gang claimed to follow when they occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

Those thugs terrorized local residents and threatened to kill any police officer who tried to dislodge them. The standoff ended with one of the insurrectionists dead by the side of the road and more than two dozen members of the group facing criminal charges.

The argument over federal control of public lands is old. This year is the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service by Woodrow Wilson. Proponents of local control tend to make arguments about states’ rights. But there’s lots of reason to believe their real aim is to take control over decisions on oil drilling and mining, commercial exploitation and privatization.

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/23/republicans-channel-the-bundys-with-federal-land-bill/?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=span-abc-region&region=span-abc-region&WT.nav=span-abc-region&_r=2

[Wellstone ruled]

1. We are damn lucky to have a Democratic President at this time.

This puppy has been hanging around for four years ready for take off. The GOP can see their strangle hold on certain Legislative bodies is coming to a end and they are pulling out all the stops to elect Ted Cruz by the pander vote.

[mountain grammy]

2. and everyone who camps, hikes or otherwise enjoys the wonderful

National Parks of Utah should write to each of these idiots and tell them we will no longer spend time or one fucking dime in their idiotic state! I plan to do that today!

[Duppers]

6. Bravo! Great idea.

It's been 30+ years since I've been in that state. Probably the last time too.

[mountain grammy]

7. We go every year..

Arches, Capitol Reef, Zion.. our favorites. guess we'll stick with Mesa Verdi and the Sand Dunes this year. Haven't been to Black Canyon for a while.

[Duppers]

8. They're beautiful, i know.

I've been in Utah only twice in my life but in AZ several times. Sadly, since living on the East Coast, I've been in England far more often.

[mountain grammy]

9. We're headed east this summer.

to visit family on the East Coast, skipping Utah. I wrote to the governor too. America is so trashy, but our national parks are gems. We get visitors from all over the world to our parks, they're so unique and special. Leave it to these assholes to try to destroy them.

[Duppers]

10. Isn't that the truth!

If our new home were completed at the literal edge of the GSMNP, I'd invite you over.

[mountain grammy]

11. Thanks, haven't been to the Smokey Mountains since I was a child.

We won't be going that far south. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains; what a place to live! I live on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.. Lucky us!

[Duppers]

12. Lucky you! :)

Gorgeous, gorgeous country. I've been there.

[Eleanors38]

3. Some potential allies in the battle to stop privatization:

Hunters and fishers.

The leading "hook & bullet" magazines -- Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Petersen's Hunting, etc. -- have called for pushback on efforts to divest public lands at the federal level. They see through the smoke and know that even if states take over these lands they cannot manage them due to GOPer defunding at state levels, and the lands would be spun off to mining, ag, energy interests and developers. The upshot: public lands of hunting, fishing and all outdoor activities would be sold off, and you would pay through the nose for the "privilege" of using the land; in the case of hunting, it would return to a European/royalty model. The National Wildlife Federation is a strong force in this coalescing alliance.

Some here on DU may wish to consider setting aside their objections to hunting and human recreational use of public lands lest they become unwitting allies of very powerful economic interests who would gladly support hunting bans on many properties to speed the transition process.

Please note that a massive mining proposal in Alaska was thwarted by outdoor interests -- including the Safari Club and fisher associations. The mine's tailings would have ruined fishing streams and disrupted wild game.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Found the article on Facebook by following the group Back Country Hunters and Anglers

So yes I'm well aware they aren't keen on the Cliven Bundy types.

[Eleanors38]

5. Back Country is becoming a force to be reckoned with...

It is disheartening to me that I get tons of mailings to save the wolves and polar bears from organizations which seem to have little interest in the issue of public lands liquidation, and are in some cases cool to the idea of hunting or oppose it outright. Their "causes" seem to exist in the abstract, or at least no further than the confines of the Beltway. Progressive Democrats can make deep inroads into the political hegemony in many states by supporting and expanding public land Access when the GOPers are so obviously against it. My sister-in-law is a recognized conservation activist, and she learned to eschew the teary-eyed environmentalism so prevalent in debate over wild lands, and work with hunting and fishing groups. It pays off.