Believe me I’d much rather be
writing about fly fishing. Yet in light of continuing events, frankly, I’m
distracted to the point that writing about our game seems trite.
Perceiving evidence that it
was coming, several months back I wrote & posted to SHJ, Dominionism Rising, a piece about the Republican plan to auction
off the Public Trust and privatize our public lands & waterways. Well, it
happened. In a move during the first session of the new Congress, the vote
split down Party lines, Republicans voted to put the Public Trust up for
auction. The first batch of public land going on the block will be 3.5 million acres over ten states, an area about the size of Connecticut -- & the sale will include three national monuments.
Though unconfirmed, multiple sources indicate the Saudis will be stepping up to bid on a good chunk of it. During the process, Republicans rescinded a law requiring that public lands be sold at a profit, if they are sold at all (I'd imagine based on current real estate values in the respective areas). So it looks like the Saudis or whoever else can afford it is going to get a discount bargain on what used to belong to the American people.
Starting to sound like fake news? I wish it was.
Ryan Zinke (R Montana), Trump's appointee to head the Department of the Interior, only three weeks ago vowed to preserve the "sanctity" of the Public Trust, yet is now heartily endorsing the "disposal" of the federal lands.
I have to admit, brilliant timing, the public absorbed & distracted with a news cycle loaded with so much else this is barely getting mention.
Though unconfirmed, multiple sources indicate the Saudis will be stepping up to bid on a good chunk of it. During the process, Republicans rescinded a law requiring that public lands be sold at a profit, if they are sold at all (I'd imagine based on current real estate values in the respective areas). So it looks like the Saudis or whoever else can afford it is going to get a discount bargain on what used to belong to the American people.
Starting to sound like fake news? I wish it was.
Ryan Zinke (R Montana), Trump's appointee to head the Department of the Interior, only three weeks ago vowed to preserve the "sanctity" of the Public Trust, yet is now heartily endorsing the "disposal" of the federal lands.
I have to admit, brilliant timing, the public absorbed & distracted with a news cycle loaded with so much else this is barely getting mention.
Values we hold dear are being
trampled by a consortium of powerful men. I know for a fact that many of you, in
addition to many other concerned citizens, wrote your congressmen on behalf of
retaining our commonwealth, however, they did not listen. Why? I’ve talked to a
lot of folks about this issue, including Republican friends, & have not met
a single soul in favor of selling off the public lands. So why did the majority of Republican members of Congress, who’s job is to represent the will of their
constituents, sign off on this radical turn?
Well, follow the money trail
& it will lead you to the truth. This crap has been cooking on a back
burner for a long time, waiting for a Republican majority to get it done. Here’s
a 2015 piece from the Seattle Times outlining the trajectory.
In an interview a
reporter reminded Donald Trump that he had formerly (before the election) promised
to preserve the Public Trust regarding public lands, then asked why he (Trump)
& congressional Republicans were going ahead with dismantling it, ignoring
a preponderance of input from the public, Trump let this slip: “The parks belong to
me now.”
So I guess that means they no
longer belong to you & me.
MakingAmerica
Making
