Public Land Access: Fighting a broken political system

[elkyinzer]

After reading and commenting on the thread about Trump and public lands, I thought I would share an article I recently wrote (hope that's allowed?) about my take on some of the deeper issues underlying the land grab movement. Always seems to be a popular topic of debate on here. Would love to hear everyone's feedback.


https://harvestingnature.com/2016/04/08/public-land-access-a-fight-against-a-broken-political-system/

 

[COSA]

Great article, pretty much sums up how I feel. I typically lean right of center on most issues, but the public land issue is a deal breaker for me. Cruz scares the hell out of me.

 

[badkneesbro]

Im just as concerned about this as any other backcountry sportsman, but I wonder if there is really that big of a need to worry? I think when they tell people they can no longer visit their favorite vacation destination or other places they would like to see in the future that they have been hearing about their whole lives, "Yosemite, Sequoya NP: & all of the other national forests, parks & wilderness areas just in Sierras of Cali." plus places like Yellow Stone & all of the places out west, not to mention public land in other parts of the country, I just think the fury of the tree hugging hippies alone would be enough to quash all this talk of selling off our land. Im sure a president couldn't do this on his own.

 

[tipsntails7]

Im just as concerned about this as any other backcountry sportsman, but I wonder if there is really that big of a need to worry? I think when they tell people they can no longer visit their favorite vacation destination or other places they would like to see in the future that they have been hearing about their whole lives, "Yosemite, Sequoya NP: & all of the other national forests, parks & wilderness areas just in Sierras of Cali." plus places like Yellow Stone & all of the places out west, not to mention public land in other parts of the country, I just think the fury of the tree hugging hippies alone would be enough to quash all this talk of selling off our land. Im sure a president couldn't do this on his own.

It doesn't work like that. National parks and national monuments are protected areas against development or sale among other things. National forests, wilderness areas and BLM land is not the same.

Most of those NP and monuments do not allow hunting and access is regulated.

 

[Violent Hippie]

Most tree huggers I know (several) stay on the trails of National Parks or wilderness areas primarily and rarely if ever truly experience the off trail national forests and BLM . The tree huggers apprea to be focused on "Emblem" peaks or regions vs the majority of the public land IMO. I think they would be oblivious to the selling of the many areas we access because they dont stand out as much.

 

[badkneesbro]

SRR & tipsntails7, your points are well taken & I agree with everything you say. However there are powerful groups out there such as Sierra Club, The Center for Biological Diversity & Audubon Society(3 orgs I despise) to name only a few that definitely do concern themselves with the lands we are most concerned with. I may just be foolishly optimistic, but the fight has not even begun, & I see a huge pushback against our enemies once the fight starts. That's if they can even get their fight off the ground. Just sayin.

 

[tipsntails7]

SRR & tipsntails7, your points are well taken & I agree with everything you say. However there are powerful groups out there such as Sierra Club, The Center for Biological Diversity & Audubon Society(3 orgs I despise) to name only a few that definitely do concern themselves with the lands we are most concerned with. I may just be foolishly optimistic, but the fight has not even begun, & I see a huge pushback against our enemies once the fight starts. That's if they can even get their fight off the ground. Just sayin.

While I agree with you, I didn't see any of those orgs at any of the gatherings regarding the sell off plan of the Jackson state forest in Oregon, or the numerous articles on the subject.

 

[badkneesbro]

While I agree with you, I didn't see any of those orgs at any of the gatherings regarding the sell off plan of the Jackson state forest in Oregon, or the numerous articles on the subject.

And I can show you where they have been active, but Im tired of being on their side of this debate. Saying nice things about them makes me feel...........dirty, so Im outta here.

 

[badkneesbro]

While I agree with you, I didn't see any of those orgs at any of the gatherings regarding the sell off plan of the Jackson state forest in Oregon, or the numerous articles on the subject.

Not saying they were active in the Jackson state forest case.

 

[tipsntails7]

And I can show you where they have been active, but Im tired of being on their side of this debate. Saying nice things about them makes me feel...........dirty, so Im outta here.

No worries, not saying they are not, just that they pick and choose what to support, if your going to support public lands, you should support all that that entails. I'm sure you feel the same as I do in that regard and by your comments your opinion of them aligned well with mine.