LETTERS: Bundy on wrong side of cattle battle

To the editor:

The Bureau of Land Management’s roundup of Cliven Bundy’s cattle is only about one thing: selfish personal gain. Mr. Bundy wants to use our public land to graze his cattle for his own personal benefit. He argues that the land does not belong to the federal government, but Nevada or Clark County. This argument is only made to incite the belief that the feds are overreaching.

But no matter what governmental entity controls the land, Mr. Bundy does not own the land and does not have the right to single-handedly use it for his own benefit. While the rest of us follow the laws regarding use of our public lands because it is in our mutual best interest, Mr. Bundy’s position is that he is special and can use our lands however he wants.

Mr. Bundy also asserts that the feds are being heavy handed with him. Far from heavy-handed, the feds have been completely lax in their enforcement of a court order dating back to 1998 which ordered him to remove his cattle. Mr. Bundy is being treated better than any of us would expect to be treated if we had been in blatant violation of the law for more than 15 years.

Furthermore, he stopped paying his grazing fees back in 1993, and his violations of the 1998 court order have resulted in additional fines. The unpaid grazing fees are estimated at more than $1 million. Mr. Bundy’s use of our lands without paying grazing fees is no different than a neighbor failing to pay $1 million in taxes while we shoulder the tax burden — it is effectively theft from the rest of us.

Despite Mr. Bundy’s efforts to paint himself as a victim, it’s actually the law-abiding citizens of this country who are the victims. Mr. Bundy has misused our lands, failed to pay the fees and fines associated with his personal gains, prevented us from being able to access our lands while we attempt to stop his lawlessness, and caused us to bear the costs of attempting to round up his cattle.

Contrary to promoting and protecting our liberties, support of Mr. Bundy in these circumstances (particularly by local government officials and via an armed mob) instead erodes those liberties, suggesting that we are each justified in breaking the law for our own gain, regardless of the rights of others. Liberty is further eroded when those who threaten harm establish what rights we have, rather than the rule of law doing so.

RANDAL WEIDE

LAS VEGAS

Noninjury accidents

To the editor:

After reading Rick Jones’ letter (“Noninjury accidents,” April 12 Review-Journal), it seems to me that the Metropolitan Police Department has forgotten that its purpose is to protect and serve. Or do the police just serve themselves and protect those fat pensions?

DAVID DANDREA

HENDERSON

Mount Reagan unfitting

To the editor:

This is a plea to all working-class Americans and elected officials: do not allow any mountain in Nevada other than Yucca Mountain to be named Reagan Mountain. More than 30 years ago, I did not follow politics, and I voted for Ronald Reagan only because I was a registered Republican. A wise, much older gentleman said that I might rue the day I cast that vote. How right he was.

I believe President Reagan started the decline of the middle class with his trickle-down legislation, which has led to our now completely shattered, dysfunctional political system. Why bring back memories of President Reagan’s failed policies? Maybe the fat cats sitting in Washington will propose we name our naval carrier fleet after President George W. Bush.

Many middle-class folks must open their minds and stop spewing the talking points established by the hard right Fox News media millionaire politicos. Listening to that hypocrisy will surely cloud anyone’s thinking. I am an old veteran of foreign wars and love being and living in America. My only hope is that we can recreate a government for the people, not for the corporations. Let’s stop wasting tax dollars on names and keep life simple.

DON ELLIS

HENDERSON