If it is "federal" land, then it belongs to we the people. Since we pay the fedgov with our taxes, they work for us. The majority of people seem to understand that what this honest rancher is doing is not harming the land in the slightest, and is something his family has been doing for generations. Suddenly however since he has refused to pay for fedgov services not rendered for years they have determined that he is defying them and their "authority" and must be brought down.
As one of we the people mentioned previously, I take exception to this attitude in general and this action in particular. My tithe to the crown (taxes) is being squandered so that the fedgov can pay legalized cattle rustlers to steal a man's livelihood and sell the booty in order to bring in their precious revenue.
And they have the gall to call this a justified legal action?
(note: not a rant against you, centurian. )
I guess the one question I have is: can I, today, file for, pay the fees for, and be granted rights to graze cattle on that land? Or would it be rejected due to the presence of some 'protected species' which seems to have survived the existing cattle grazing for the past hundred or so years?
Or would it be far more likely that I'd be granted use of that land for some massive solar plant that would 'accommodate' the protected species living in little pens in between my massive solar panel arrays?
If the answer to the first is no, or the second yes, then this has nothing to do with grazing fees and everything to do with power over the land. And the worst part of it is; had the federal government just stepped up and said 'hey, we've decided to use this land for a solar power plant and the cattle are in the way and thus have to move' that most people would have nodded their heads and supported the federal move. Instead, the story is about some 20 years of grazing fees that were never paid (and likely wouldn't have been approved.)
Federal land policy is broken and corrupt. It has long been a tool of the politically powerful and connected. Bundy is just one of a long string of little people beaten into submission. In Bundy’s case they are using the Endangered Species Act to rid themselves of troublesome citizens. The irony is that Bundy’s use of the land actually enhances the habitat of the endangered Desert Tortoise, but that little critter is being used as the excuse to destroy this man’s livlihood.
The range wars of legend continue on fueled by government and greed.
If it is "federal" land, then it belongs to we the people. Since we pay the fedgov with our taxes, they work for us.OK, fair enough. Would you agree to all ranchers ceasing to pay grazing fees? And would you agree to, say, me using that land for whatever I want? My company has some old copiers that needs dumping and since it belongs to "we the people" that means it belongs to me to do what I will...