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Range
Fighters: Preparing To Take Back the West: Part 1
At the meeting were a list of heavy hitters. Many names could easily register as "legends" to a Westerner who has been victimized by government land regulations. Among them, Cliven Bundy, a legendary Nevada rancher and cowboy, Robert (R.J.) Smith, Senior environmental Scholar of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Jim Bason, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association; Karen Rose, a campaign and Public Relations Specialist, and Nancy Geehan, a Political and Communication Strategist, and several officers of Frontiers of Freedom.
"Groups such as the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance have teamed up and all but control the Department of Interior," said Diane Foster with Frontiers of Freedom. The vehicles for the goals of such organizations are the Antiquities Act of 1906, and the Endangered Species Act. According to those in attendance, these acts of Congress have been perverted to place human beings on a lower order than plant and animal life (livestock not included). "We are at an impasse in Congress," said R.J. Smith, Senior Scholar at a Washington, D.C. based grassroots think tank. "The Supreme Court won't even listen to a Environmental Protection Agency violation over the 5th Amendment. The 5th Amendment clearly states that, "[No] private property [shall] be taken for public use, without just compensation." Today in increasing numbers, ranchers, farmers, mining interests, recreation visitors, especially in Western states are being forcibly removed from private land with no compensations by the government, and in most cases, those who are forced to leave are required to compensate the government for public use of the land. This has fueled a sentiment in the West known as the "Sagebrush Rebellion."
"I make about two dollars an hour, " she said while pacing the floor with the microphone. "I had to sell my car. I don't even have transportation." But Hadley set the tone for the event when she insisted that Range Magazine will continue, and she's in the fight for the long haul . "We will publish until there is blood on the highway!" she insisted to a rapt audience. There were no signs of anyone present ready to raise a white flag. Like Hadley, few if any Westerners in the battle for their economic and cultural survival are in this battle for the money. She explained how battling against a multi-million dollar lobby, many who are under siege by administrative rulings and bureaucracy are forced to spend any spare funds on legal services. This presentation made fund raising a primary focus of this coalition of battle weary and battle tested Range Fighters. Targeted for fund raising will be companies and corporations who are directly affected by over-reaching government policies. Diane Foster, who video recorded the entire event, spoke about how anti-free market, bio-extremist groups have teamed together and shown a united front. "We should do the same," she said to the audience. "We need to get the word to the loggers, ranchers, snowmobilers, miners, and farmers that we are all affected, and we need to stand together." Proposals As each subject was brought up, Jim Tenney made sure there was a list for everyone to see. The key was to come up with solutions, not more problems. That's when the brainstorming began. The Range Fighters believe a window of opportunity was created by a recent legal victory in Jarbidge, and the change of the guard at the White House. But recent statements made by Interior Secretary Gale Norton are of major concern to these Ranch stewards. R.J. Smith assured the audience however, that there are persons in place within the Bush administration, ready to address many of the concerns, but only loud voices will be heard. Also, there are current bills in two state legislatures (Utah & New Mexico) that would give states more authority and control over land issues. Only time will tell. "The consensus seems to be," Walley stated after hearing opinions from those present, "we must focus with our local elected officials." The reality is, experience has taught the group that working exclusively with federal officials is like "beating your head against a wall," as one rancher said who wished to remain anonymous. The ranchers are in agreement that tactical offensive operations are best, such as the Woodrow Wilson bridge (I-495 over the Potomac River) injunction that was filed by the Landmark Legal Foundation. The Wilson Bridge is one of the few interstate draw bridges remaining, and is a major cause of Capital Beltway traffic jams during the week in the Washington D.C. area. Range Fighters consider such lawsuits as offensive operations, or as it was called, "thinking out of the box." Westerns hope injunctions in urban areas against badly needed development will help Americans in more populated areas understand the inconvenience and frustrations Rural Westerners must endure daily due to over-reaching environmental polices. Thus, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia residents can sit in that rush-hour parking lot called the Wilson Bridge thinking about how important it is to save a rare species that they've never heard of, and will probably never see.
"Private property provides a tax base," Karen Rose said. She says that working closely with good county officials can slow down land grabs by as much as 5 years, or until more public pressure can be brought to bare. According to Rose, these Advisory Boards are being formed in Larimer County, Colorado, just north of Denver.
There are
some who are skeptical about even working with local government at times.
Nancy Geehan, a Policy and Communication Strategist from Buffalo, Wyoming,
strongly suggested, "not to depend on government, but each other. To
rely on government means not relying on each other. We should work with
individuals instead." A complete
video presentation of this event is available. For details, contact: A Special and Personal Thanks to Mr. & Mrs Jay Walley for bringing so many good Americans together, and never giving up the fight. Reprinted with permission in Sierra Times - www.sierratimes.com In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. [Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml] |
