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 A few years ago,(09) I met and talked to Paul  Gosar at one of our campaign events in Prescott AZ.  We discussed the forest service , dept of ag and interior.  He indicated that he had family , in another state that was dealing with many of these issues facing ranchers and land owners west of the 100 meridian.

I asked  him that night, if he had read “Storm Over Range Lands” , by Wayne Hage.  He hadn’t , and I explained that I thought it would be helpful to him going forward , because he was going to be dealing with these issues in Washington.  I had a good feeling about him and so I endorsed him , based on the connection I felt we both had to the land. But I never talked to him again. Not surprising given the attitude that I have towards the Republican Party.

But let’s get to the issue.  It’s no secret that many ranchers do not want the public on their grazing lands.  And frankly I don’t blame them. Many people bring their trash, destroy fences, leave gates open, and generally are much more than a nuisance.  The problem is that those that raise our food , and care for the land , are out numbered by city folks living in high-rise apartments that want everybody in the west to live in misery like they do.  And they are willing to spend millions on K street , influencing and bribing government agencies and bureaucrats in every agency.

My position is simple.  First let me qualify my position by providing some history. I grew up on a farm with a Hereford Cow herd, Holsteins in the milking parlor, Hamps in the farrowing pens , chickens in the roost , and horses to keep things in perspective.

First , we do not need any additional legislation. Gosar is trying to get reelected,and that is driving this bill. Anyone in politics would do the same.  Well maybe not!

 Second. the ranchers are certainly in favor of this bill, but they already have legislation in place protecting their rights as ranchers. My view is they’ve either forgotten or never knew of these rights in the first place. “Again read the book” .  My question is to them , why reinvent the wheel, when all you have to do is get it going in the right direction.  Getting that done, not only would be easier, but would save the country billions of dollars every year.

Many of you will remember the event we had over in Otero County NM , where we had a tree cutting event , attended by Cong Steve Pearce. I had a few minutes with the congressman, and told him, if you’re going to save the west , you are going to have to get the forest service out of the road, and you must start , by slashing and burning their budget.  He said they were trying.  I haven’t heard from him since.  Oh that’s right , I may be an American , but I don’t live in his district.

That issue right there , is why Washington DC is over.  And the sooner we pull the plug on it the better.

But let’s get back to the bill.

If this bill were to pass , the only thing that will happen is we will spend more money, and get nothing. Maybe another commission, or another branch within a branch. The truth is we need to cut these branches off, cut down this agency tree and return the management of these state lands which we own, the government does not own these lands. We do. Nothing will happen should this bill be passed , that will prevent future wild fires ,crank up timber production, or any of the positives proposed by the bill.

But there is something that citizens of the west can do.  Force your Governors to stand up , and take the land back.  We did that in 1988 with SB1012. But the state was lazy and did not act on the legislation.  So here we are , since we moved  here in 2002, We seen over 2 million acres of timber and state land go up in smoke , due to the management failure of the forest service and BLM.  Do you have any concept of the direct and indirect costs of those failures. Not just  immediately but going forward.

Here’s just one example. China is in the process of developing forest lands. Why, Two reasons, they’re economy is improving and the folks want to live in homes, like Americans. But they recognize that America is allowing their timber production to be destroyed or controlled by major corporations , including the biggest corporation of all , The UNITED STATES Corp.  So China will produce their own lumber thus the American economy and employment goes up in smoke.   Has it occurred to anyone yet that this is STUPID!!!

Here is what must happen. First ranchers must be educated on their existing rights , such as grazing permits , water rights, right a ways and so forth. Remember folks grazing rights and water rights are private property , protected under the Constitution and SC decisions. They are deedable.  Ranchers, many of them have taken the bait and have forgotten that these rights are private property and that they have a split estate with the feds as to ownership. and those rights take precedent over the feds as per SC decisions and Constitutional law.  The jurisdiction over state land, must be managed by the states , local government , closer to the people , must be instituted.

This must happen at the County Commission level, and the State Level. But at the end of the day , the local authority will rule.  Study, don’t take my word for it.

Let me remind you of what I mentioned many times during the campaign. In 1982 Reagan established a commission to consider selling land in the west to private parties. He had to abandon this commission because he discovered , that he could not sell land that did not belong to the government entirely. It was encumbered by prior apportionment to those that settled the west. That is why when I was saying that the federal government does not own this land , we do, it made the hair stand up on the back of the folks neck. The forest service has never challenged me , at any event when I go there, to that fact. Read the book.  Study ” Split Estate” that is what stopped Reagan from proceeding .   While we’re talking about Reagan: If you really want to get into the weeds regarding land west of the 100 meridian,  Check out ” The Administrative Presidency Revisited”  (Public Lands, the  BLM, and the Reagan Revolution) by Robert F. Durant.

These books I mention are important folks because if you’ve been paying any attention at all. You know the threats that are out there towards private Property.  And while Im here ,let me say this.  If you allow the Senate to ratify the obama/clinton gun ban treaty, even thought it would be unconstitutional.  We all know , that you can not expect the Supreme Court to always rule in favor of our founding documents.  I submit “Kelo V New London.  And here’s a truth that if you don’t remember anything from this post , remember this. If they take your guns(a constitutional right) either by force or voluntary.  The next thing they will take will be your private property,(a constitutional right).

What we need , as I discussed this with Congressman Pearce at our event in Otero County last Sept is this. the budgets to the department of Agriculture the dept of Interior must be slashed in half or more. the agency :the us forest service: was a welfare jobs bill after the war. It has been proven to be an arm of the environmental groups , such as earth first, sierra club, nature conservancy and more. In fact those groups have planted members inside the agency,.

The forest service has failed in its original mission statement at every level. From forest management, water conservation, timber for the nation , and recreation.  It was a jobs bill , to create jobs after the war and now its time to kill that welfare program. Look it up.!!

Governor Brewers failure to sign the take the land back bill last spring was a disaster. She should have followed the leadership of the Governor of Utah. But she listened to the ranchers that are ignorant of their rights. It’s true that the ranchers want to keep the folks off the land. I deal with that every day. But the truth is that if the land was left to total and complete management of the ranchers, we would not be facing the situations we deal with today. Ranchers built lakes, harvested timber, rotated grass lands, maintained wild game, eliminated the wolves, maintained watersheds,kept the bears in high country. No agency will or can be better stewards of the land , than those that make their living , creating food from water and dirt.  Thanks Baxter, I got that last line from you sir.

Look at what the Indians do.

So , too late now , but my intention , had I won , was to drive home the fact that we own this land. Our side of the split estate , takes precedent.

The State of Arizona , must , it is time to reclaim its jurisdiction over all lands within the borders of Arizona, in fact the law is on the books to do just that . SB 1012 1988.

read the books” Storm over Range Lands” Wayne Hage. “Trouble in a Green Truck” Charlie McCarty , Reserve NM. and the latest, is “Liberty and Justice for All” Hugh B. McKeen. County Commissioner Catron county. I met and visited with both these men .

We can fix this but we’ve got to stop electing puppets .  I would be a NAY vote , in the Independent Column.

Someone once said: A man who gives up freedom for security , deserves neither.   That is where we are headed.

Sorry for rambling

Bruce

It’s about time someone gave napolitano the red ass!

http://youtu.be/fUlIQCeToUA