Grazing Rights

Posted on April 22, 2014 by RL CRABB

Two Mules143With all the hubbub over the Bundy fiasco, it’s worth noting on this Earth Day that grazing rights are not a new issue. This is a page from my graphic novel Scablands. The scene depicts an actual encounter that took place in the 1880’s. The more things change…

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15 Responses to Grazing Rights

  1. Brad Croul says:
    April 22, 2014 at 5:51 am

    Yep, rancher Bundy’s ancestors moved in after the Fed “made the land safe” (by running off, rounding up, or murdering the indians). Now the Fed wants to “make it safe” for the tortoises – so Bundy must go (unless he signs a treaty giving tortoises the right-of-way?)

    Reply
    • Chris Peterson says:
      April 22, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      This ain’t no environmental war over protected species. It’s a freeloader who won’t pony up the pittance our government charges per acre because it’s his God-given right to use the land, now that we’ve killed off those who used to live there.
      Meanwhile in Washington DC there’s a coalition of ranchers and native Americans, (who call themselves Cowboys and Indians against the Keystone pipeline), marching on the White House and Congress.

      Bundy needs to pay up, and the wackos who showed up with their rifles need to be spanked and sent to their rooms without FOX news for a month.

      Reply
    • Chris Peterson says:
      April 23, 2014 at 6:50 am

      Not actually, Greg. If you take the time to read Mr. Yowell’s complaint, it clearly states that he believes his tribes treaty gives him the right to graze his cattle outside of the 9,000 plus acre reservation, whereas the government, and so far the courts, disagree. He was asked multiple times to move his herd back onto reservation lands and refused to do so, resulting in the herd being confiscated.

      Both Mr. Bundy and Mr. Yowell contend that their rights are being violated, and that they have the right to graze their cattle, free of charge, outside the boundries of their ranches. Hats off to FOX for finding another case of free-loader grazing and spinning it into another supposed violation of “free” enterprise. That’s what they do; stir up the uninformed with half-truths and innuendo under the guise of oppression.

      Mr. Yowell’s complaint:
      http://sct.narf.org/documents/yowellvabbey/petition.pdf

      Reply
      • Chris Peterson says:
        April 23, 2014 at 7:09 am

        Oh, and your claim that it is happening to “the Shoshone” is disingenuous; as with Mr. Bundy, it is the illegal use of public lands by an individual. In both cases, there is no dispute of the $1.35 per cow/calf pair per month by any other ranchers; that charge being as close to “free” as you’ll find anywhere on the globe.

        Reply
      • Greg Goodknight says:
        April 24, 2014 at 8:41 am

        “Both Mr. Bundy and Mr. Yowell contend that their rights are being violated, and that they have the right to graze their cattle, free of charge, outside the boundries of their ranches.”

        No, Bundy is not contending he has a right to graze without charge, and wants to pay Clark County for grazing in Clark County and of the million bucks+ the BLM says Bundy owes, perhaps no more than $200k is grazing fees. The BLM was trying to force 53 Clark County ranchers out of business, only 52 complied. This is about the 53rd.

        I realize the left really needs this to be about right wing freeloaders. You probably even believe what you’re writing.

        Reply
    • Brad Croul says:
      April 24, 2014 at 9:04 am

      The Shoshone have been getting robbed by the Fed since the 1860s.
      http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/shoshone/ruby_valley.html

      The Shoshone did not give up possession of their lands – but the Fed has been taking it for years.

      The Dann sister’s fight against the BLM has been going on for decades.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Dann_and_Carrie_Dann

      Bundy is just a wannabe Nihilist who chooses not to recognize the American government.
      He is also an old school redneck,

      http://www.businessinsider.com/cliven-bundy-racist-comments-slaves-ranch-2014-4

      Reply
      • Greg Goodknight says:
        April 24, 2014 at 12:53 pm

        “Bundy is just a wannabe Nihilist who chooses not to recognize the American government.”
        Of course he recognizes the Federal Government, just not as the controller of 86% of Nevada, refuses to give an estimated $200k of past grazing fees to the folks at the BLM who put 52 other ranchers out of business over the same stinking desert, and tried to make it 53. Rather than trying to pay Clark County the grazing fees, he probably should have paid it to the tribe (if any) who have a demonstrable claim to it. Not all of the 86% of Federal land in Nevada traces to the Ruby Valley Treaty, but now might be the time for tribes to demand its return. Win win. And the Left would be in a quandary not unlike a Christian Scientist with appendicitis.

        Yes, Bundy is a redneck hick Mormon rancher. Surprise. Doesn’t bother me that he’s not in my social circle but it does bother me the BLM would send stormtroopers to evict his cattle and round up protesters into Free Speech Zones.

        It also bothers me that storm troops went house to house with warrantless searches in the Boston area looking for one lone bomber on the run. Machine guns and armored cars.

        Reply
        • Brad Croul says:
          April 25, 2014 at 7:08 am

          “I believe this is a sovereign state of Nevada,” Bundy said. “And I abide by all Nevada state laws. But I don’t recognize the United States government as even existing.”

          Nobody I know favors government controlling every minute detail of our lives. So, in that respect, I respect Bundy’s fight and his attempt –

          “to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances” meaning the People, with evidence that the government is abusing its constitutionally limited power, have the Right to submit a Petition for a Redress (remedy) of the constitutional wrongdoing, that government has an obligation to honestly respond to the People’s Petition and, should the government ignore the People, the People have the Right to enforce the Right of Petition by retaining their money until their grievances are Redressed.”

          http://www.givemeliberty.org/RTPLawsuit/Update2005-05-27.htm

          Reply
          • Greg Goodknight says:
            April 25, 2014 at 7:49 am

            ““I believe this is a sovereign state of Nevada,” Bundy said. “And I abide by all Nevada state laws. But I don’t recognize the United States government as even existing.”

            Brad, you’re taking an off the cuff verbal comment out of context and far too literally.

            I don’t see much of the Federal Government in my corner of Nevada County, either.

  3. Greg Goodknight says:
    April 24, 2014 at 8:49 am

    Regarding the Shoshone, the Clinton Administration tried to settle the Ruby Valley Treaty claims by offering 26 million bucks for 24 million acres. Do the math… what land can you buy for a dollar an acre?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Ruby_Valley_%281863%29

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1404/S00199/a-western-shoshone-tragedy-vs-nevada-millionaire-rancher.htm

    Reply
    • Chris Peterson says:
      April 25, 2014 at 6:32 am

      The “Clinton administration”? In 1979? I realize that some liberals all look alike, but you’re off by a half generation. Try James Earl Carter.

      Believe me when I say that I sympathize with the native Americans, and wish we’d reinstate ALL past treaties with them. They’d then own a good quarter of the US, and I would personally profit immensely, being married to one.

      Too bad that the only court system that agrees with their claims, and your position, is the UN, which no self-respecting conservative would ever support.

      Reply
      • Greg Goodknight says:
        April 25, 2014 at 8:41 am

        Carter. Different C.

        While also I don’t cite the UN as an authority, I’m not a conservative, Chris. Get used to the idea. But a treaty is a treaty, a contract is a contract.

        Since the latest congressional offering to settle Ruby Valley Treaty claims is $6 an acre for 25 million acres, up from $1, I’d say the movement is in favor of the Shoshone. Perhaps the Congress should just grant the Shoshone all future monies collected for grazing rights on historically Shoshone lands, in perpetuity.

        Reply
    • Brad Croul says:
      April 25, 2014 at 7:17 am

      I believe Bundy is down in Paiute territory.

      It was one of those cases of synchronicity yesterday. We were listening to the news about Bundy and my wife (who is knowledgeable on indian affairs) said Bundy’s case sounded a lot like the Dann sister’s fight. She has a colleague who has been involved with the Dann’s, and their fight, for years. Since RL made the indian comparison, I thought I would throw the Shoshone connection out there (but you beat me to it!)

      Reply

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