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Anton's avatar

This is no longer just a land use debate—it’s a coordinated assault on public memory, public trust, and public land. The word nukes isn’t hyperbole. They’re detonating decades of bipartisan conservation ethic and replacing it with a billionaire land grab wrapped in Orwellian PR.

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Rick Estabrook's avatar

Hello Ryan, thank you for keeping us apprised of the underhanded happenings in our legislature. I was wondering if there has been any organizations with a stake in our public land. Organizations like Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, gun and fishing equipment manufacturers, and even the NRA. Without public land for people to recreate on there won't be much use for some of these corporations. Keep public lands in public hands!

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Linda Foy's avatar

Hello Ryan,

Thank you for all your information about the takings of our public lands. Scary times.

On the theme of the privatization of our public lands, I was thinking about Woody Guthrie's song, "This Land Is Your Land." I just discovered that there are 2 stanzas that are not often sung (but he did, off and on) --from the Library of Congress:

https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/This-Land-Is-Your-Land.pdf

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me


The sign was painted, said “private property”


But on the backside, it didn't say nothing.


That side was made for you and me.

One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple


By the relief office I saw my people; 


As they stood there hungry, I stood there wondering


if God blessed America for me.

And another fun fact about Woody Guthrie, Donald Trump's father was his landlord. Is that crazy or what?

And he wrote some rather scathing words about him as well.

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/25/woody-guthrie-sang-of-his-contempt-for-his-landlord-donald-trumps-father/

I suppose

Old Man Trump knows

Just how much

Racial Hate

he stirred up

In the bloodpot of human hearts

When he drawed

That color line

Here at his

Eighteen hundred family project

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Mike Sands's avatar

Ryan: any ideas of advocacy groups or ngos that are actively organizing around this issue and need support?

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Steve warren's avatar

I realize that your headline was meant to grab eyes immediately. I understand you were using the terms metaphorically, but in these absolutely batshit insane times I found it jarring to say the least. It felt very click-baitish and I think you're better than that. Other than that, I'm a big supporter and fought hard for you during the last election. I'm glad you're on our team!

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Patty Dean's avatar

I think you mean to say "defused." :)

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Ryan Busse's avatar

Yup. Messed that one up.

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Steve warren's avatar

Thanks for taking my comment in the spirit it was intended. In the 10 seconds it took between reading the headline and understanding it was a metaphor, my mind immediately went to "Oh no! Our Toddler-In-Chief has added small scale nukes to his toy box!" The frightening part is that it's not that far-fetched! Keep fighting the good fight, friend.

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