Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Rathbun responds to LWCF article

How a conservation fund helped sink Trump's budget-trimming efforts


Floyd Rathbun said...
Absolutely with Trump.

Saying that the LWCF has not cost taxpayers is cute, but the fact is the cost to our communities when private property, including land, becomes federally controlled property is huge.

As one small example, Environmentalists (some kind of Conservancy) bought the Rosaschi Ranch in Lyon County Nevada and soon sold it to the US government. Now under US Forest Service regulation, USFS became the managers of what had been a productive ranch. Millions of dollars changed hands when the Enviro-Conservancy sold their interest to the government, so at least that group of conservationist (environmentalist) associates prospered.

Prior to the sale the ranch irrigated substantial acreage that provided feed for cattle, deer, sage grouse, and song birds. Private ownership and private management provided direct benefits to both the local economy and to wildlife. After the USFS got their authoritative hands on the land and water rights the maintenance of ditches, fields, and hayland crops stopped --- sage grouse disappeared as did the mule deer and song birds. The property no longer contributes to the economy of the community through sale of agricultural products.

A few fishermen now have unrestricted access to that section of the East Walker River. East Walker River became fish habitat after the irrigation reservoir at Bridgeport CA was constructed. Prior to the reservoir the river dried up every few years. With the establishment of fishing opportunities the recreationists weren't satisfied with just going fishing; apparently the federally controlled banks of the river did not look as good as the privately controlled sections of river. So being good socialists they demanded that taxpayers turn the private lands into government lands suitable for taxpayer subsidized recreation.

Once again the government agencies have put into effect the destruction of land management based on capitalism and science which seems to be the underlying goal of programs such as this LWCF.

Motives for this story are also tied into a conservationist day dream promoted by Senator Harry Reid called "Save Walker Lake". Walker Lake is where the Walker River ends. To his minions that meant ending irrigated agriculture upstream from the lake. I guess that Senator Reid would have agreed with the politicians in this story.

LWCF and other programs like this should end very soon.

Thanks Floyd.

Saying it costs the taxpayers nothing is also "cute" in another way. Previously that income went to the Treasury. By diverting that money, either other programs are cut, other taxes are raised to replace that income or the rate of deficit spending goes up. All of those entail a cost.

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