More on the RAT, privatization, and the last year of dirty deeds by the Bushies.

David Neiwert wrote this insightful piece.

Neiwart, I should add is an expert on the ideas of the Western extreme right wing. Everyone should read his book In God’s Country: The Patriot Movement and the Pacific Northwest. WSU Press. 1999.

The Phonies in the Woods. By David Neiwert. Common Sense. He discusses the RAT tax, the end days of the Bush Administration (it looks ugly for the outdoors), turning the woods over to private outfitters, and how old western establishment, typified by Larry Craig, keep Westerners confused and disorganized.

This article has a lot of excellent links to earlier material.

Pinedale, WY provides cautionary tale for Colorado communities

Pinedale provides cautionary tale for Colorado communities. By Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News.

One thing the article doesn’t mention is that when all these gas leases were let and plans made was that the attention of the keepers of the local traditions was diverted by talk about “the menace” of the 2 or 3 wolf packs that had formed at the north end of the Green River Basin. . . the classic politics of diversion.

Senators Baucus and Crapo trying to repeal the R.A.T.

Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Act (FLREA) was passed in the dark of night in 2004. It has become known to its opponents as the Recreation Access [to public lands] tax, or “the RAT,” for helping us remember it.

By “dark of the night,” I mean it was added to the omnibus appropriations bill with no debate, by Republican US Representative Ralph Regula of Ohio. This came on the heels of the 2-year Recreation Demonstration Fee Program which had proven unpopular, but limited in extent.