"It’s not just parcels being sold. It’s whole systems being broken.
Once a landscape is carved up and privatized, you don’t get it back. You get fences. You get padlocks. You get warning signs where the trail used to begin."
Truer words were never spoken. It's a one-way ratchet.
I’d like to point out the selling of our public lands that’s being written into a gigantic spending bill with the hopes it will be overlooked. dismissed, and passed without public debate is unconscionable. And, it’s a dream Utah Senator Mike Lee (R) has been instrumental in pursuing for some time (please inundate his offices with your outrage: 202-224-5444)
In great contrast, the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893, also known as The Cherokee Strip Land Run, opened millions of acres for SETTLERS to claim; for towns to be created, businesses to serve those Individuals who made claims on small parcels of land
for homesteading, and of course, to begin new lives. The land was opened for people to settle, not to corporations to abuse or profit. My grandfather was one of those settlers who helped “found a town,” opened a drug and bookstore and eventually became instrumental in building a State College. My roots go deep along the Cherokee Strip in Northwest Oklahoma where public lands were offered for Western expansion by the government — not to exploit, but to provide communities.
I hope many, many more of us continue to speak out loudly against allowing the vast areas in the Western United States to be exploited.
Absolutely right and great history lesson, Monet! The language is designed to slip past the public. Mike Lee has been pushing this vision for years, and now it’s embedded in the most powerful tool Congress has - budget reconciliation. The contrast you drew to the early land runs is great. Back then it was about building communities, not liquidating the land for corporate gain. What we’re seeing now isn’t expansion, it’s extraction. And the people who live closest to these places will lose the most. Appreciate you raising your voice and urging others to do the same.
Thank you, Will, for filling us in on this alarming news. Do you have any details on which public lands exactly are up for attack? I’m in Arizona, so focused on that somewhat. It sounds like they’ve given up on the farce of providing affordable housing now?
Hey Melanie - thanks so much. We’re working on the details of what spots are the likely points on the chopping block and will update. Will be forest service and blm lands primarily. I would be surprised if they don’t try and revive the housing thing again. If we can stop them on this budget bill then they’re dead in the water for a while as much of this would be punted down the road and the closer we get to elections the touchier members get of issues like public lands that are so unpopular with voters.
In Utah it also National Parks, State Parks, ski resorts! They were used for the 2002 Winter Olympics, the best Olympics ever, and they are scheduled for the 2034 Olympics Utah has won!
And you think that's funny? Have you ever been to any of these lands? They are beautiful and draw tourists in by the millions in all the states affected by this Resolution! Stop making light of it, and help preserve our lands!
He is ruining Utah! We get huge amounts of tourists to these places, both summer and winter! People who service them will lose their jobs! Rural communities will be hurt the most! But Senator Mike Lee has no heart; obviously he is getting something out of this! It's fishy as hell! We MUST STOP THIS!
You wrote:
"It’s not just parcels being sold. It’s whole systems being broken.
Once a landscape is carved up and privatized, you don’t get it back. You get fences. You get padlocks. You get warning signs where the trail used to begin."
Truer words were never spoken. It's a one-way ratchet.
It’s a one way ratchet indeed Michael. Only way to reverse the tension is cut the cable.
I’d like to point out the selling of our public lands that’s being written into a gigantic spending bill with the hopes it will be overlooked. dismissed, and passed without public debate is unconscionable. And, it’s a dream Utah Senator Mike Lee (R) has been instrumental in pursuing for some time (please inundate his offices with your outrage: 202-224-5444)
In great contrast, the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893, also known as The Cherokee Strip Land Run, opened millions of acres for SETTLERS to claim; for towns to be created, businesses to serve those Individuals who made claims on small parcels of land
for homesteading, and of course, to begin new lives. The land was opened for people to settle, not to corporations to abuse or profit. My grandfather was one of those settlers who helped “found a town,” opened a drug and bookstore and eventually became instrumental in building a State College. My roots go deep along the Cherokee Strip in Northwest Oklahoma where public lands were offered for Western expansion by the government — not to exploit, but to provide communities.
I hope many, many more of us continue to speak out loudly against allowing the vast areas in the Western United States to be exploited.
Absolutely right and great history lesson, Monet! The language is designed to slip past the public. Mike Lee has been pushing this vision for years, and now it’s embedded in the most powerful tool Congress has - budget reconciliation. The contrast you drew to the early land runs is great. Back then it was about building communities, not liquidating the land for corporate gain. What we’re seeing now isn’t expansion, it’s extraction. And the people who live closest to these places will lose the most. Appreciate you raising your voice and urging others to do the same.
Thank you, Will, for filling us in on this alarming news. Do you have any details on which public lands exactly are up for attack? I’m in Arizona, so focused on that somewhat. It sounds like they’ve given up on the farce of providing affordable housing now?
Hey Melanie - thanks so much. We’re working on the details of what spots are the likely points on the chopping block and will update. Will be forest service and blm lands primarily. I would be surprised if they don’t try and revive the housing thing again. If we can stop them on this budget bill then they’re dead in the water for a while as much of this would be punted down the road and the closer we get to elections the touchier members get of issues like public lands that are so unpopular with voters.
In Utah it also National Parks, State Parks, ski resorts! They were used for the 2002 Winter Olympics, the best Olympics ever, and they are scheduled for the 2034 Olympics Utah has won!
But the senators would rather mine it into oblivion it seems.
And you think that's funny? Have you ever been to any of these lands? They are beautiful and draw tourists in by the millions in all the states affected by this Resolution! Stop making light of it, and help preserve our lands!
He is ruining Utah! We get huge amounts of tourists to these places, both summer and winter! People who service them will lose their jobs! Rural communities will be hurt the most! But Senator Mike Lee has no heart; obviously he is getting something out of this! It's fishy as hell! We MUST STOP THIS!
Totally. So bizarre that of all the senators it’s one of the ones with the most stunning and pristine public lands.