image: Reno Gazette Journal
The Cliven Bundy ranch standoff in Nevada with the Federal ‘BLM’ agency during April-2014 peaked my curiosity to research how much land in the United States is under the control of the Federal government.
I looked on in amazement as I discovered a map produced by the Bureau of Land Management which shows the extent to which the government controls land mass in the United States – especially in the West…
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages more surface land than any other Federal agency – approximately 245 million acres.
Much of these lands are located primarily in the West, but the bureau has a national presence with control for some 700 million acres of sub-surface of both Federal and non-Federal lands.
The BLM administers lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Additionally, the BLM manages 58 million acres owned by non-Federal entities such as States and private landowners.
The BLM also oversees operations on 56 million acres of Indian lands.
The massive U.S. government land ownership states:
Nevada: 84.5 percent
Alaska: 69.1 percent
Utah: 57.4 percent
Oregon: 53.1 percent
Idaho: 50.2 percent
Arizona: 48.1 percent
California: 45.3 percent
Wyoming: 42.4 percent
New Mexico: 41.8 percent
Colorado: 36.6 percent
Washington: 30.3 percent
Montana: 29.9 percent
Total Federal Land As A Percentage Of State Land
image source: EconomicPolicyJournal.com
There is an ongoing land grab (especially in the West), while Federal agencies are controlling and seizing control of more land (and water), and private property in the United States.
That said, you might want to research the United Nation’s ‘Agenda 21’ to discover more about the U.N. vision for the rest of us with regards to many things including our private lands and their desire to move us from the rural areas into the city regions. By the way, our current Executive Branch fully supports this agenda and has been implementing executive orders to enable favorable actions in this regard.
One way they the feds are gaining more control of the lands is through all things ‘water’.
Reported from The Independent Sentinel, the EPA is redefining the meaning of the word ‘water’ in such a way as to allow them to seize control over all water and, as a consequence, all private property in the United States.
The Supreme Court of the United States has defined the meaning of ‘water’ as ‘navigable water.’ The EPA seeks to redefine the meaning of water as all ‘connected water,’ and they are seeking to define ‘connected water as all water, so they can assume power to regulate every body of water in the United States. Any water, even ditches, on private property will be controlled. They are using a bizarre theory found in a study which says all water is connected underground.
On August 2011, Executive Order 13575 was issued and it gave the government control over 16% of our rural lands. For what reason? Are the rural lands doing badly? Did the farmers ask for this?
Executive Order 13575 allows the President to develop “sustainable communities”. The government has no constitutional authority to do this but they are. Last year, Mr. Obama announced his plan to develop “promise zones.” He’s starting small.
The order is in complete agreement with the UN’s Agenda 21 – The UN’s View on Property Rights – Straight From the Marxist Manual.
– The Independent Sentinel
– Chilling Truth: The Seige of the Bundy Ranch reaches into the White House
In July 2011, the federal government agreed to allow China to buy up 600,000 acres of gas & oil fields in Texas.
In April 2014 it was uncovered that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has apparently colluded with the Chinese energy giant, ENN, in a $5 Billion deal for Nevada land – which apparently requires the removal of Cliven Bundy and his cattle from his ranch in Bunkerville, NV – hence the BLM invasion and attempted removal of his cattle in the guise of protecting a desert tortoise turtle…
China is buying up land all over the United States and it’s being done with the apparent full support of our Federal government.
And this all just the tip of the iceberg…
I wonder how the Federal land map will look in the future… more red blotches I suppose…
On a related note (property grab) this is a good brief synopsis of what happened at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada where Americans drew a line in the sand:
Video link
Not the end of this , the Feds cannot take this , they look weak in stepping back from this , they will try to get back at Cliven Bundy in one way or another , and if they do try this should be enough for the Patriots to follow through with taking it to the Feds , since the Feds have shown that they are not going to keep any word or promise to the People . It still appears to me that we the people will eventually end up in insurrection with the government . As for showing that most all of the members of Congress are corrupt , this is a good example of at least one of them , it is a shame we don’t have a national recall vote in place , because most of the politicians in office would probably be in one now ! All we can do now is wait for the Feds to show their hand . Be prepared and ready . Keep your powder dry .
How do you feel about Ammon Bundy travelling to Oregon, (1-2016) uninvited, Armed & Illegally taking over a Federal Wildlife Sanctuary which the Federal Government Purchased in 1908? This land has nothing to do with his families business. It isn’t even in his Home State and He is using another Farmers court judgement as an excuse, even though the Farmer said He wants nothing to do with Ammon Bundy or His Armed Militia.
If Ammon Bundy believes He has Constitutional standing that the Federal Government doesn’t have any right to Own Land within the Continental United States. Why is He such a Coward, taking over a secluded, empty Federal Building? If He thinks He has the right to take up arms against the Federal Government on this issue, why doesn’t He occupy a federal Military Base or Naval Port?
Owl Mirror,
The problem here is the way that the Federal Government when operating under the wrong leadership tends to overreach. America needs a Government who is here to serve and protect us, not fight us. Over the last 10 years massive amounts of Federal Land has been Sold &/or Traded without the citizens approval, to China & other countries. Our Government then allows these multinational foreign companies to exploit the land resources but will not allow Private American Landowners to utilize the land resources on their land. It looks as though our government is more likely to assist Foreigners than Americans. My personal opinion is that some of this BLM land should be given back to the closest Native American Tribes.
they were aquitted in a court of law!
My bullets are dry. This it not America! This is communism & Obama, & the rest of his appointed officials is Nothing but communistic satan worshiping beast, trying to enslave us & take our freedom & rights away Americans would rather die then loose the right to live free, & have to worship satan as these leftist do.. Obama & past presidents clear back to Hoover & Eisenhower , have been the United Nations/New world Order’s puppet’s they paid to be elected into office . President Kennedy fought against them & they killed him, it in black & white, in the CIA & FBI’s concealed documents as 9/11 is.. Lets see all their hidden agenda crimes, against us & America. Don’t ask for these documents, it, take them with a warrant. by a non corrupted Federal Judge, if there is one left. Stop immigrants from entering this Country, for they have no education on our corrupt politicians & rigged election system. This is why the liberals wants open borders to gain votes & infiltrate our Government to turn America communist Trump has to stop these people & clean out Washington DC. Appoint honest hard working Blue collar Citizens for they know what money hungry people do to innocent people. Lower the pay these politicians make, it is there duty to serve this country for nothing or little pay, the same pay that our Veterans get. These veterans like both my brothers received 200.00 a month in Vietnam War., to give their life, for a lousy 200.00 & don’t even get medical, except from the Vets hospital which employs Doctor’s whose license’s have been revoked. But these crooked politicians get blue Cross for life. without having to put their life on the line in the same condition our military does.
Just wondering, how much of this land will end up in the hands of the likes of China when the USA can no longer pay all it’s loan debt. Somehow the loans will have to be paid back, and when money is worth little because of excessive printing the government will offer up whatever it can to satisfy it’s debtors.
Or they could just as likely go to war (WW3?) to dismiss the loans against a country it now considers an opponent.
The problem is not the BLM agents, but Harry Reid and friends. Most of the agents are really on the ranchers side. They are poor working folks like us. Some agents think they are Rambo but most are good people.
“Most of the agents are really on the ranchers side. They are poor working folks like us.”……
“Just following orders” did not work for the defendants in Nuremberg after World war 2 and it will not fly here. IF they were truly friends of the Ranchers would they Tazer and threaten protestors? WOuld they act as aggressively as they had? No…..
AMEN, this land grab has been going on for at least 4 decades. It’s a states rights issue. The Feds have no right to own land….period!!!
Actually the land grab has been going on since 1492.
All this is hogwash. The Bundys and the likes of them DO NOT own the land they are using. The US taxpayers do. The federal government is simply licensing out the land for various uses. Bundys are whackos and are skimming a million + $ off the US taxpayer. This is pure and simple. We don’t need pitty-parties for poor white folks. The land is NOT theirs. It’s the federal government which is own by all the citizens of the US. Most folks that support the Bundys are simply not that educated on basic laws of the US.
You remind me of the German people that did not have a clue to what Hitler was doing until it was to late. If you can not comprehend to what is going on, it is just better to keep you opinion to your self. If you honestly believe that the Feds is the same as the people, have you not been paying attention to what has been going on in this country. Do us all a favor don’t vote this next Presidential election.
Do you realize that the Federal Government made it possible for the Bundy’s ancestors to be able to settle the land they claim to own?
Read your Constitution. FEDS can not own states lands except under buildings/bases. (Once a territory becomes a state, the federal government can only possess land, within that state for limited purposes: a national capitol, federal military facilities, and certain docking and warehouse facilities related to the collection of tariffs. Article I, Section 8:17) With UN Agenda 2030 in full speed mode, all previous contracts for access/grazing/water rights are being pulled. This destroys the livelihoods of MANY families. Example: http://freedomoutpost.com/2015/12/blm-burns-ranches-and-destroy-cattle-but-ranchers-get-charged-with-terrorism/
America is all but a shell of its founding principles because the people have relinquished their rights to a psychopathic Oligarchy, being too lazy to believe in and rule themselves. Then when someone with courage stands up for what is RIGHT, the uneducated/propagandized cowards feel safer to get behind the WRONG collective.
Show me anything in the constitution that alludes to the fed having the purpose or right to own huge land mass. Not educated my A**
Whoever wrote this needs to be educated on the Constitution of the United States. One of those brainwashed liberals.
you are not educated on the constitution
@ “They do not own the land, The people of the USA do.”
Since your so educated on the U,S. Laws, then I must be a rocket Scientist. Read the Constitution. The federal Govt. can only use federal land for post office, military bases, military buildings, etc, unless the state. the land belongs to grants them an enclave &/or the deed.in exchange for a monetary price.
The only time the Federal Govt. can own land is in a Territory, which means a place that has not become a state, Once a area has become a State of the U.S. The State owns all the land, the Govt. does not own or have any control or say so, unless it is a National Park, in which they cannot sell it to a foreign country behind closed doors as they tried to do many times in the U.S. history.. Please make sure you have the facts straight before you run your mouth & mis inform people on something as serious as this confrontation.
Ahhh when in the past say 20 years did the Government ever feel limited by the US Constitution? The third branch of Government the Courts seems able to find any amount of “Living Document Meanings” in that grand old paper.
Our Fore-Fathers must be doing flips in their graves.
Seems rather odd that you were replying to a comment almost 6 months ago.
I was going to agree with hogdog. I think most of the agents (guys actually down there) and military are on our side. It must be conflicting and hard for them. Plus they think they are following the law. So lets not take our anger took much out on the the ones on location trying to do what they probably think is genuinely their job.Although some are ego driven. The ones really to blame are bureaucrats and politicians.
Plus I still am confused by this. If this is technically the governments land, how is this wrong. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying the government taking land is right. But if it is not in his name, then technically it is not his, right? Even if he was allowed to use it, they have the right to change their mind from what I understand. No we don’t have to like it. That would be like me using a empty lot next to me for 40 years and someone moving in and I would be like but I was using that! No fair!!!! But no, it was never deeded or titled in my name. I would have never paid taxes. So whomever it was titled to had ownership whether they used it or not.
He should have somehow gotten that land in his name years ago if indeed his family has used it for years or some agreement in writing that permitted him to always use that land. We take land very serious in Texas.
We are seeing this here on the Interstate expanding. Businesses being torn down and houses too. Of course they are being “bought out”, but still. You really have no choice. At least the Trans-Texas Corridor was stopped.
The Federal government should not be in the Land ownership business to begin with (Ask the Native Americans). The land within state boundaries should be controlled by the people IN THAT STATE….PERIOD. Washington DC has no business as a landlord, it creates inherent conflict of interest-such as the issue with Fracking. If DC wants to lease BLM land for Fracking they DO NOT care what the people of that state think nor do they care the impact it will have on them- This is inappropriate(As we’ve seen here). If the people WHO LIVE ON THE LAND (In that state) Make the choice to lease it for fracking then THEY have considered the possibility of how it will effect them, their children and their future and made that determination- THAT is appropriate, people controlling their own fate.
The Federal government is not supposed to be the “Owner/Property manager” of this nation- It’s sole purpose is like a referee-To make sure all the states play nice together and people’s rights aren’t violated. Instead they have become THE BIGGEST rights violator on the block!!!
I agree with you Spud, the STATES and LOCAL is where government is more appropriate and useful. Smaller but local government.
The federal government has overreached into state and local government and has become WAY TOO BIG AND ALMIGHTY in all aspects of our lives and business.
They have spent OUR MONEY to do this, while the sheeple are mesmerized while watching their reality TV, Sports TV, Sitcoms, Video games, and their Facebook page. They are completely and utterly uninformed, low information idiots who vote. We are outnumbered by them and we are absolutely doomed to collapse because of it.
Understand that this isn’t just “technically” government land it is unquestionably government land. It was never Bundy’s land and it was never the state’s land. Some of those who are in favor of Bundy or probably more accurately not in favor ofthe federal government are spreading lies and half truths. This is government land. Bundy stopped paying his “rent” to use the land in 1993. He did this for a loony tin foil hat reason. The government could have and should have evicted him then. They got a court order to take the cattle and sell them for back fees and that is what they were doing. Bundy and the loonies who joined him interfered with the legal court order and in doing so broke the law. For what? For some crazy interpretation of states rights. Don’t believe all you are being told about this situation.
Aside from the land dispute of the Bundy family ranch who has resided there since 1880, and aside from the fact that the the Bundy family insists the land rightfully belongs to the state of Nevada, and aside from the fact that the Bundy family stopped paying their grazing fees to the federal government during this dispute, the fact is what the federal government did, and how they handled it was wrong.
The ACTIONS of the federal government is what has so many Americans upset and up in arms.
The federal government could have instead put a lien on the Bundy property for the amount due, which is what often ultimately happens when a home or land owner does not pay for something and the other party comes after them. When the property is sold, the amount due on the lien comes out of the purchase price of said property.
Instead the government came out with their assault weapons of intimidation, established a first amendment zone, began tazering people for no legitimate reason, arrested a Bundy for taking pictures on a public roadway, and began stealing the owners cattle. That’s what I call bull shit heavy handed federal gubment intimidation.
What many government supporters don’t understand (yes you GoneWithTheWind) is that the uproar is not about Bundy owing some money, but it is about Americans who have been pushed around for too long by this gargantuan government, and who are on a hair trigger. Many, many Americans feel backed into a corner and are beginning to push back. This is going to get much worse. You wait and see. I hope that it does not, but I have no doubt that it most certainly will as big government continues to put it’s boot on our throat.
…I’d only add that what many Bundy supporters don’t understand is that he has no standing to interpret what the law SHOULD be. We have a mechanism for that in this country (the courts), is it too much to ask that Bundy abides by it? Or are we all free to ignore whichever law we perceive to be unjust based on our extensive legal knowledge gleaned from the University of Wikipedia?
The government only governs with the consent of the governed. That is called a “government by and for the people”. When laws are made that we “the people” feel are unjust or unconstitutional, we have every “right” to stand up and ignore those laws. WE THE PEOPLE are in charge, not the government, dummass!
No.
We have the right to seek redress in the courts and to lobby and elect our representatives to amend the laws. Period.
He has every standing to do so legally. Constitutionally speaking, the “State” is defined as the US citizenry. We also have the right and DUTY to ignore and resist unconstitutional legislation.
As per Article 1, section 8, clause 17 of the constitution – the Federal government has no right to own anything except a small sliver of land (DC), and an allowance in other States for specific “needful buildings” such as military bases and dockyards. The people who wrote the Constitution were concerned about the exact possibility of what is happening now.
Your assertion that we have the right to do as we’re told by bureaucrats is abysmally ignorant.
Nonsense.
“The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.” Art. 4, Sec. 3
If the US were not allowed to own land, the framers wouldn’t have mentioned the property of the US.
Further, “To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;” A1, S8, C17.
How you could construe this to mean the Federal Gov’t can ONLY own the seat of power is beyond me. Consider your sources.
This is the beginning of more government deletion of our freedom! The citizens of all states should be very alarmed at the totalitarianism being used by the most ethically corrupt US Administration in our short history!
As expected, the media has been mostly silent about this event, especially as it was unfolding. Now the bits of media reporting that we’re hearing are slanted towards the Bundy supporters being domestic terrorists.
The citizens aren’t told the truth (by the mainstream media) and when certain events are eventually reported on, the media portrays the outcome in a way that always supports the socialist-progressive-communist point of view. It’s remarkable. Unfortunately most typical American sheeple trust what they hear from the alphabet channel news as the holy gospel of truth. That in itself is remarkable.
“What many government supporters don’t understand (yes you GoneWithTheWind) is that the uproar is not about Bundy owing some money, but it is about Americans who have been pushed around for too long by this gargantuan government, and who are on a hair trigger.”
If this is your true belief then you should back an honest person with clean hands. The Bundy issue is full of terrible legal erros on Bundy’s side. He cannot possibly win in a court of law. (He might win in a court where the decision was fixed but not in a court of LAW.) Therefore you (the figurative “you”) look foolish by backing him. It is not to dis-similar from those who support states rights and back the KKK or fly the rebel flag. It dirty’s your stated intention and loses you suporters. Think about this: Bundy is a believer in the sovereign citizen movement. This is not a rational movement and the people in it are not rational. Bundy’s decision to stop paying his grazing fees to the BLM was (by his own words) because of his belief that the state is the supreme government and not the federal government and that therefore the state should/does own the land. Well he lost in court, he will lose that point in every court. He should lose that point. For the sake of law and common sense he should lose that point. The federal government does indeed own the land in question and Bundy is some kind of kook tin foil hat wearing sovereign citizen believing nut. Now, he may be a nice guy to have abeer with or to go hunting with but his beliefs are from another planet. By backing Bundy as your hero in the effort to reform what the federal government does you doom yourself and your intended goal. Pick someone with clean hands whose actions and beliefs are legal and who has actually been “wronged” by the federal government.
In my opinion Bundy was foolish. He should have accepted the BLM’s new rules and taken steps to mitigate the effect on his operation. He still had his deeded lands and his cattle. He should have purchased some irrigated farm acreage and raised hay/alfalfa to supplement his own property’s ability to support his cattle. This is the number one method other ranchers have choosen to fix this same exact problem. Or he could have downsized his operation to what the land could support under the new rules. Or he could have purchased more grazing land. Or any of a number of other options. He instead chose to tilt at windmills like a 21st century Don Quixote.
For what it’s worth, I am kind of a government supporter. I served 20 years in the military, I love my country and the constitution, I will never shoot at LEO’s, the U.S. military or government officials. I will not “revolt” and I only will support a constitutional change of government.
I’m sorry but you ARE a sheep! The government has NO right to own land or legislate the use of one’s private property. When the goevernment OWNS land it unquestionably breeds corruption.
“Don’t believe all you are being told about this situation”.
That is a true statement, and the Fed’s full perspective really hasn’t been told in anything I’ve seen unless you read the court documents and the court orders. There are some very passionate and emotional responses for “poor Mr. Bundy”, but when the Fed’s shows it’s full information including Bundy’s own court filings and depositions, it’s not going to look so good for him, or the Patriots/III’ers that are backing him, IMO.
If I may Ken, here’s a single link that has the court documents embedded: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/12/The-Saga-of-Bundy-Ranch
They include Mr. Bundy’s filings, so it’s not a one-sided view. For anyone interested, you can read them to find that:
-Cliven Bundy had no issues with the US owning the land until his permit was modified in 1992 when it came up for renewal.
-It wasn’t the US that closed his allotment to grazing, but Clark County Nevada when they bought the permit he didn’t renew and retired it.
-Mr. Bundy has been expanding his herd, and allowing them to graze since 2000 in areas that were never part of his grazing permit.
-There have been traffic accidents, near accidents, complaints from the public, and a lawsuit related to his cattle.
-The BLM/NPS tried to work with Mr. Bundy for years, even allowing him to create new improvements on public land to facilitate him removing the cattle, but while he adds/maintains the improvements – he never removes the cattle.
The BLM and the courts have built a rock-solid case and been so lenient with him over the last 21 years that I’m starting to think the US might have operatives in the III’er movement, and inciting them to violence to help Bundy so they can discredit them and destroy the movement when they show their cards later.
“The Bundy family’s battle with the federal government–now playing out in international news coverage—began in 1993 with the listing of a native tortoise incorporated under the Endangered Species Act. As a result, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) informed grazing permit holders like Bundy that cattle counts would need to be reduced to 150 head.”
This is a sad example how the government will run people out of business at a whim. Through regulations. I have read that they have run 50 other nearby ranchers out of business this way. By reducing the herd until it is no longer profitable for the ranchers who then have to sell out. I guess Bundy is the last one there. They are using a turtle as an excuse. I’m glad that other people have come to his support.
GOVERMENT OWNS NOTHING BUT DEBT!
TexasGirl within this article is the proof of Senator Harry Ried of Nevada having a deal with the Chinese for a solar panel manufacturing corp to move into this land , but Harry needs for the Bundy’s and their cattle off the land , there are other sites with this information also , and also involved in this is Harry’s son who is taking care of the business end of it . All of the much to do about nothing about the grazing rights issue ,and the money supposedly owed is hot air , Cliven Bundy paid the fees to BLM until they refused to take them then he started to pay the state of Nevada , but they had no access to pay the BLM the fees so they gave them back to Mr. Bundy . The plight of the dessert tortoise is another matter though , the BLM has not been able to even help keep the tortoises alive so they have had to euthanize a number of them instead of them thirsting to death . Oh and the BLM has sold numerous acres in Northwest Nevada for oil exploration and fraking . And yes as for how the BLM has handled the situation , in my opinion they are going about this in just the way any arrogant thinks they knows what’s best for everybody and don’t mess with us because we are the Feds and can do anything we damn well please to you and you just have to live with it or we will kill you or make you disappear Feds , this might just come back and bite them on the ass like Ruby Ridge or Waco should have , not one federal agent was ever brought to trial over any of atrocities they committed , yeah the BATFE had to pay out over 3 1/2 Illinois dollars in a law suit to Randy Weaver over the loss of his wife , but no admittance of wrong doing on the governments fault ever came about . I do not trust the government , I love my country but I dislike my government . I do hope that some of this clarifies the situation at the Bundy ranch . Be prepared and ready . Keep your powder dry .
When the “People” exercise the power they have….Hmmmm Imagine the possibilities!!!!!!!!!!
SpudWeb, I have to agree with you. I had to research it more. I didn’t know they were taking land for crazy things like turtles going extinct then a year later fracking the land! Wrong. What happened to this land is our land…this land is your land…hmmm.
Fracking is ruining the land. In Texas we have started have small tremors/earthquakes. They say it’s not the fracking but it’s stemming from those areas.
Most people I know have no idea what is going on. It is really sad. They are taking facebook quizzes and watching reality shows. Nobody cares.
Do not judge every BLM agent by the actions of a few. I would bet the farm that the agents on the road were not from that area and were hand picked. If Harry Reid and his china friends did not want this man’s ranch this would have never happened. It has nothing to do with him not paying taxes for his cattle to be on public land. Do you really believe that he was the only rancher not paying to use land that we the people own.
Yes, not paying for 20 years in fact.
Yes, and the 51 ranchers that used to be in that area are no longer there because they couldn’t afford to pay their taxes. Sean, were you kicked in the head by a horse or something when you were a child?
52 neighboring ranchers have been “regulated” out of business by the BLM, leaving Bundy the last man standing.
Sean, this is way beyond the technicality of not paying grazing fees. It is much bigger than that. Do some research and find the truth for yourself. Ask yourself why is the federal government willing to spend millions on a Bundy assault? The real thing going on here is not about grazing fees. Take it to the next level please.
I’m sorry for those who were “regulated” out of business. Mr. Bundy may be too once he brings his herd down to 150 and pays his owed fees out of the money generated from the auction of his impounded cattle, at whatever split he negotiated of course, which I believe was the point of this whole exercise. Dude wanted a better deal, he got it, and he got the added bonus of people actually sending him money to boot to support his “cause”, namely the size of his own checking account!
Anything he got,wasnt by force or stolen!
Ask the next Native American that you see about that.
I have to say all the facts are not known by all of us obviously. But it looks like the government wanted their money to which, yes maybe they were entitled. But they went about it in the wrong way. They wanted to maybe send a message to others who don’t follow the law or pay what is due, is what I am guessing.
Down here people only run cattle on the land they own or lease. There is no free range or using state or government property. Your cows get out, you will be liable for them and getting a call from neighbors,etc.
The Bundy’s hold the deed for that land and have held it for over 100 years. The BLM decided to steal the land in 1993, first by claiming to save a turtle, them claiming ownership of the land without having the deed. The states are sovereign and we the people own the land, the feds have no right to the land, period. The only land the fed owns is the district of columbia.
GoneWithTheWind
Read this article, then comment.
http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/04/bundy-ranch-crisis-causes-us-ask-actually-owns-americas-land/
Two points: 1. There is no doubt that the land is owned by the federal government. Bundy doesn’t own it, the state doesn’t own it the federal government does own it. 2. I am opposed to the government owning anything more then they need to actually run their mandated missions.
I would be in favor of making all (or almost all) of the currently public lands into privately owned lands. However I would not be in favor of doing this in a way that simply rewards big landowners or the rich. I would be in favor of a plan to sell off the public lands to individual citizens with provisions to prevent big landowners, governments and the rich from buying it up. Something along the lines of selling it off in small parcels (for example 40 acres in arid lands like Nevada, five acres in high desert lands like Oregon or Washington and perhaps an acre in California. To buy a parcel you would have to be a individual citizen (not a corporation or big landowner) and you could only buy/own one parcel. You could sell it but you could only sell it to an individual citizen (not a corporation or big landowner) who themselves does not already own any of these parcels. The purpose of this of course would be so this didn’t turn out to be some wild land grab where all the land ends up owned by GE or some developer, the state or even some big rancher. The objective would be to have the governments divest themselves of the land and to put it into the hands of citizens. The rules would be part of the deed of the property so that the land could never be bought up or combined in perpetuity.
If I may as well Smiley. The article correctly references the Constitution of Nevada in defense of it’s argument, but neglects to mention the Ordinance clause which states, “That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States;”.
If governments are given power by the consent of the people it governs, then the Constitution of Nevada has spoken – they forever disclaimed their rights and title to the lands and gave them to the United States. They voted 8 to 1 in favor of this language.
The government has detonated hundreds of nuclear bombs in Nevada and it says Cliven Bundy’s cattle could be harmful to the desert tortoise.
Beware of govt paid contractors making $17 an hour trolling websites to defend what they do and what they done.
Much as I hate to admit it the part about Harry Reid and ENN is false. I do believe the Federal government is out of control but let’s get all of our claims of malfeasance corroborated so the liberals can’t say we make things up just to make them look bad.They look bad enough with the stupid things they do without false claims. Let’s be the ones who report factually and with integrity so we never have to eat crow.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/15602-federal-judge-rules-for-property-rights-smacks-down-abusive-feds
A similar western rancher case:
Judge smacks down abusive Feds.
“In the present case, the Government’s actions over the past two decades shock the conscience of the Court.” This finding, coupled with the court’s finding that agents of the BLM and the USFS engaged in a conspiracy to deprive the Hage family of their vested property rights, opens the door to potential lawsuits against the individual agents personally for their unconstitutional actions.
Yahoo!
BREITBART is reporting that the BLM is now keen on a land grab in Texas of 90,000 acres.
WTF!
“After the recent Bundy Ranch episode by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Texans are becoming more concerned about the BLM’s focus on 90,000 acres along a 116 mile stretch of the Texas/Oklahoma boundary.”
People in general are mentally, physically, lazy. Not only allow but wamt someone to think for talk for them. U damn sheep! There is another way! Thought. Quit paying taxes now tell ur boss no more taxes. Get a ticket . Or Due to an officer inplying, accusing you of a crime or infraction go jury trial no wave time.put their law on trial by your peers. Man up woman up or shut up sheep I don’t say shut up so action. Tell every individual he’ll throw ice on every one get attention, then we all have controll. No tax he’ll no court. Only way to get controll back to the citizens of this land. Who by our constatosion can only OWN LAND. Ok? Only legal tender is gold and silver. What don’t the president understand a r eou awake sheeppeople?
Well said……I think.
I know the map is “WRONG” in regards at least to Utah. At https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf – page 8 (of 28 pages), the CRS (Congressional Research Service) in December 2014, shows the percentage of lands in Utah owned and controlled by the Federal government at a whopping 64.9%, a FULL 7.5% above the 57.4% figure given.
If “Trust Lands” account for the difference, that is nearly the size of the state of New Jersey (and a fair bit larger than the entire state of Connecticut) – NO SMALL DIFFERENCE!
I would recommend to the webmaster of this website to check this out, and (probably) correct it. Over 4,000,000 acres is no small area (an area larger than most small states)!
The Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in 1863 between the U.S. government and Western Shoshone tribe included the use of 43,000 square miles of territory extending north from the deserts of Southern California, across much of Nevada, and into South central Idaho, and East into Utah. The treaty gave Shoshone permanent use of land in exchange for “peace,” so that the [then] Union of the United States in the midst of Civil War, could guarantee the flow of gold out of California to points East. Shoshones agreed to end warfare with settlers and the U.S., and to allow transportation and telegraph wires through its territory. The U.S. government acknowledged, 115 years later, that they had further encroached upon Shoshone land through privatization, mining, and nuclear testing, and paid the tribe $26 million through trust, or 15 cents per acre. Today the amount is valued at copy40 million (79 cents per acre), although the Western Shoshone have not withdrawn a penny. Shoshone say the 1863 treaty did not sell their land to a government, but instead secured their rights to own and occupy. About an hour southwest of Elko, NV, the Dann sisters live in a makeshift dwelling, shaded by trees, and powered by a gasoline generator. They have fought the government for 30 years, for land they say is theirs. Except, their ranch butts-up against a new wealth of gold deposit discovered at an ever expanding Cortez gold mine. Cortez splits its operation into three units; the Cortez open pit, and two independent Carlin-type disseminated gold deposit pipelines. The operation is owned by Placer Dome Inc., (60 percent) and Rio Tinto (40 percent). The U.S. government permitted gold mining at Cortez in 1969 with expansion plans still underway 24 years later. In 2003, more than 3 million ounces of gold will be produced from Cortez on Shoshone land. Until September 2002, when federal agents first seized 227 cattle from the Dann ranch, the Danns were raising cattle and horses on land purchased by their father Dewey Dann in the 1930s. In December 2002, the Danns were ordered to remove remaining livestock, 250 additional cattle and 1,000 horses, and they were charged with trespassing on public land. They were served with $3 million in fines for past due grazing fees. The Dann sisters, both of whom are in their 70s, did not transfer grazing permits into their name from their late father, Dewey Dann. They say that their land is within the boundaries of the Western Shoshone and therefore live under territory rule. The government says the land is now public and it was purchased from Western Shoshone in 1979.Until September 2002, when federal agents first seized 227 cattle from the Dann ranch, the Danns were raising cattle and horses on land purchased by their father Dewey Dann in the 1930s. In December 2002, the Danns were ordered to remove remaining livestock, 250 additional cattle and 1,000 horses, and they were charged with trespassing on public land. They were served with $3 million in fines for past due grazing fees. The Dann sisters, both of whom are in their 70s, did not transfer grazing permits into their name from their late father, Dewey Dann. They say that their land is within the boundaries of the Western Shoshone and therefore live under territory rule. The government says the land is now public and it was purchased from Western Shoshone in 1979. The Bureau of Land Management served the Danns warrants, and followed through with their warning to auction off remaining livestock in January 2003. The sisters sued the Bureau of Land Management to establish rightful ownership of land, and watched federal agents remove their cattle and horses on the morning of 18 January. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that since the Danns received no money for their land, it was still theirs, but the ruling was overturned in the Supreme Court, using a “bar clause” which states that Indian Claims legislation denotes; whenever money is paid for land, its use and rights to use are forever barred. Shoshone land had been gradually encroached upon, according to the Supreme Court, and it therefore no longer belonged to the Dann Ranch. Carrie Dann says she wouldn’t have sued the Bureau of Land Management had she known the court would favor the government. Bureau of Land Management says Dann livestock caused irreparable damage to the countryside due to over grazing. Dann claims overgrazing damage is nothing like the damage caused at the neighboring Cortez. Grass grows back, but mining causes irreparable damage to the earth, according to Carrie Dann.
I hope the Bundy’s prevail in all this.. When I view the map of what the government owns in the west I am shocked ! Why such a huge land grab ? Why sell my land to the Chinese.. Why ? I am sickened by this ! Heads should roll for what’s going on here in the WEST !
TRUMP DID THE RIGHT THING GIVING BACK TO THE STATES CONTROL OF LAND I HOPE HE DOES MORE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jerry morey,,,,, right on !!!!!!!