Publication Date

2016

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The most recent manifestation of the Sagebrush Rebellion is a mind-bending, consciousness altering, looking glass version of logic and reality. The sight of Cliven Bundy with his big hat, massive silver belt buckle, and his equally sizeable paunch, his unemployable spawn, the late, doggedly litigious Wayne Hage and his dutiful descendants, the swat teams of heavily armed, confrontation-seeking acolytes, equipped with flak jackets, AK-47s, second amendment signage, and "patriot" bling is, to be charitable, cartoonish. This clown car has emerged, clad in the sackcloth of "injured innocence" and professing to be the beleaguered natives of the Great Basin's high desert. They announce rebellion against the evil federal Sheriff of Nottingham. In truth, only the Western Shoshone could legitimately make this claim, and, indeed, the Dann sisters are true American heroes. These characters at Bunkerville and Malheur are most decidedly not the like of the Dann Sisters.

This crew of modern-day Yosemite Sams are, however, aided and abated by the insatiable ratings hunger of the 24 hour news cycle, by the fire-breathing, right wing radio hosts and by the preternaturally, perpetually irritated Tea Party; and beyond, more sinisterly, is the aid of the dark money of the corporate imperialists and the power of their legislative henchmen. The real rebellion, which exists behind the stalking horses of the "useful idiots," is being fomented by the likes of the Koch Brothers, Utah Representative Ken Ivory, the American Land Council, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and most of the 2016 Republican presidential candidates, including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, all of whom are dedicated to the divestment of the federal public lands. This makes the rebellion worth a closer look.

Publication Title

The Urban Lawyer

Volume

48

Issue

3

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