Some of them might be thinking like Pastor Niemoller in Germany and they are right to do so.
The elites-major political parties (Uniparty) have an agenda to shove down the throat of anyone, Right or Left.
We were given the First Amendment for a reason as in times like these.
Op-ed: Government, Tribune intend to scare ranchers from pursuing rights
BY TODD MACFARLANE
PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 19, 2016 05:24PM
UPDATED: FEBRUARY 19, 2016 05:39PM
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One of Thomas Jeffersonâs most famous quotes that seems to be especially apropos at this point in time is: âWhen government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.â
I find this quote to be particularly interesting in light of recent events in Oregon, and the Farm Bureauâs Grazing Conference in Richfield on Thursday, coupled with The Salt Lake Tribuneâs articles by Brian Maffly about that event and what had become essentially its primary objective: to strike fear in the hearts of ranchers. The dramatic headline of Mafflyâs first article about the event was: âOfficials meeting with Utah ranchers to find solutions that wonât involve âmore bloodshed.ââ
According to that article:
Thursdayâs conference is geared toward âproactiveâ solutions, rather than the âreactiveâ gestures gaining traction in some circles.
âWe want people to look at a way to address these problems that wonât involve confrontation and lead to more bloodshed,â [Farm Bureau Executive Director Randy] Parker said.
He was referring to the Jan. 26 shooting death of Arizona rancher LaVoy Finicum, who had been imploring Utah ranchers to assert ownership claims to their grazing allotments and to tear up their federal contracts.
There is no question, regardless of prior scheduling and planning, the primary objective of the conference became to discredit the theories of Dr. Angus McIntosh, who has been commissioned by the National Federal Lands Conference to give educational workshops about property rights.
Although the emphasis of those workshops is on ranching, McIntosh makes very clear that the principles also apply to logging, mining, hunting, recreation, access, and affect anyone who may claim any form of âright,â including simple access to lands held by the federal government that are typically referred to as âpublic land.â In his presentations, McIntosh focuses on important definitions, including statutory definitions to the effect that properly defined âpublic landsâ are those lands âopen to entry and settlement.â He makes many distinctions, and discusses the âsplit estatesâ that exist in lands held by the federal government, including the forage estate, the water estate, mineral, timber, and access estates.
Both state and federal governments were well represented at the conference to strongly reinforce the message, and seek to rein-in any possible rogue elements. Although none of Utahâs congressional delegation were able to attend the meeting in person, they were well-represented by a full contingent of staff, emphasizing how critical this issue is currently viewed to be.
According to Assistant Utah Attorney General Tony Rampton, and Brian Mafflyâs reporting of Ramptonâs position:
âMcIntosh contends ranchers have established a âproperty rightâ to the forage through years of âbeneficial useâ and easements to move cattle.
âThatâs nonsense that will lead to serious trouble for ranchers who buy it, according to Rampton.â
Although, in a âmeeting after the meeting,â Forest Service Attorney Terry Padilla seemed to concur with many of McIntoshâs points, and praised the opportunity that had been provided to hear from McIntosh, according to Rampton, any notion that ranchers have any form of âproperty rightâ to graze and utilize the forage on their grazing allotments is a myth, because according to Rampton, âNo such right exists.â
According to Rampton, any attempt to take any position to the contrary will âhave consequences,â and according to Rampton, âwill do nothing but harm individual ranchers and destroy their livelihoods.â
Based on the timing, context and manner of the messages communicated by Tony Rampton and Randy Parker, with significant help and inflammation from The Salt Lake Tribune, the message communicated both to ranchers and to the general public could not possibly be more clear. And in my opinion, this is what that message is:
âAs ranchers, you have no property rights in your grazing allotments. And the federal government is willing to kill you, and take your cattle, ranches, any claimed property rights and destroy you if you make any attempt to stray from the path dictated by the government.â
That is undoubtedly the message the federal government has been attempting to send for the past several years, and especially within the last two months. And Tony Rampton, Randy Parker and The Salt Lake Tribune have certainly stepped up to the plate to help deliver that message.
In conclusion, let us not forget Thomas Jeffersonâs statement: âWhen the people fear the government, there is tyranny.â
Based on this message, could our situation be any more clear?
Todd Macfarlane is an attorney, rancher, writer and political activist. He represented Mary Bullock and other ranchers in long-standing struggles with the federal government, and he currently represents the LaVoy Finicum Family.