A4
Opinion
wallowa.com
January 13, 2016
Wallowa County Chieftain
Occupation
hurts cause
of rural
America
T
he armed militia groups who failed to provoke a
shooting war with federal agents during a standoff
at a ranch in Nevada have brought their show to
Oregon’s Harney County. Local residents are largely
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So should the rest of
rural America.
Militia members
supposedly came to town to Voice of the Chieftain
support two local ranchers
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whip the ranchers and the townspeople into a revolutionary
frenzy, a splinter group took over facilities at the Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge as a larger protest against federal
control of western lands.
The occupation is led by Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada
rancher Cliven Bundy, whose dispute with the Bureau of
Land Management led to a tense standoff between federal
agents and militia in 2014.
We struggle to understand what they hope to
accomplish. Their action does nothing for the ranchers they
allegedly came to town to support. Their stated goal of
holding their position until the federal government returns
the land to private ownership is at best a delusional hope,
and does nothing to resolve the real issues.
This desperate action allows critics to describe these
complaints to urban America as the farcical rants of armed
militia, dubbed “yeehadists” by CNN.
The federal government holds title to massive parcels of
public lands throughout the West. That’s been settled law
for a hundred years. Many would like that land turned over
to the states, as was the case with much of the federal land
east of the Rockies.
The real question is how that land should be managed
and how grazing and natural resource extraction will
remain viable and part of the multiple use doctrine that
historically governed public lands.
Government policy once fostered the timber, livestock
and mining industries that became the economic lifeblood
of rural Western communities. Current policy — the result
of environmental lawsuits and regulatory and legislative
changes — is largely responsible for draining that lifeblood.
At the same time, private property rights have been
eroded by the same forces. Individuals and businesses have
suffered under heavy-handed regulatory enforcement that at
times borders on despotism.
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many Americans who feel economically and politically
displaced.
Enter the militia groups.
We understand their frustration with the federal
government. We recognize their right to peacefully protest
and lawfully exercise their 2nd Amendment rights.
But we disagree with their interpretations of the
Constitution and these tactics.
The remedy to these grievances will not come from
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specious Constitutional theories.
Instead we trust the tools provided by the Founders —
the ballot box, the legislative process, the courts.
The constraints on ranchers, timber workers and miners
are real. Any hope of getting a legislative solution that
accommodates both conservation goals and traditional
livelihoods will require reasoned debate and the empathy of
urban voters and legislators.
The armed occupation of a lonely federal wildlife refuge
in the wilds of Oregon will only hurt that effort.
EDITORIAL
USPS No. 665-100
P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828
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Enterprise, Oregon
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Speaking out for rural Oregon
In recent weeks, the people of Har-
ney County have become no stranger to
national headlines. On Jan. 3 a group
of armed protesters overtook a federal
facility in the Malheur National Wild-
life Refuge. Two days later Dwight
and Steve Hammond — father and son
ranchers from Harney County who were
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that burned 139 acres of federal land —
reported to prison to serve the remainder
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While these stories played out across
every major media outlet, it’s important
to understand what is driving this anger
and what steps we can take to improve
the situation.
The thread that ties the Hammond
family’s case together with the calls of
those who took over the refuge is de-
cades of frustration, arrogance and be-
trayal that has contributed to the mis-
trust of the federal government.
While I understand their passion, I
cannot condone the actions of the armed
protesters, led largely by people who are
not from our state. They’ve made their
point loud and clear, and local commu-
nity leaders, including many ranchers,
have asked them to leave. They should
do so.
The day after the Hammonds went to
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on what was unfolding in Harney Coun-
ty. But when decades of my own pent-
up frustration with the federal govern-
ment’s treatment of rural Oregonians
came to the surface, I spoke before
my colleagues for nearly half an hour.
(You can watch my full speech at www.
walden.house.gov/speech).
In my years representing the people
of Oregon’s 2nd District, I have worked
with local ranchers and the citizens of
eastern Oregon to resolve disputes, to
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Contents copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction
without permission is prohibited.
Volume 134
Rep. Greg Walden
operative spirit and partnership with the
federal agencies. After all, more than
half the 2nd District is under Federal
management, or lack thereof.
The Steens Mountain Cooperative
Management and Protection Act is a
prime example of those cumulative ef-
forts. But after it was signed into law in
2000, little by little, the agencies decid-
ed to reinterpret it and follow it at their
own convenience, or ignore the law al-
together.
At the suggestion of local ranchers,
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ness in the United States, but the tradeoff
was a legal requirement for the federal
government to provide the fencing.
And yet bureaucrats within the Bu-
reau of Land Management wouldn’t lis-
ten and wouldn’t follow the law. They
told ranchers they had to build the fence.
When I pointed out their error, they ba-
sically told me to stuff it.
When I provided them with the doc-
umentation from more than a decade be-
fore that proved the intent of Congress,
they doubled down. Finally, when I got
Congress to pass a restatement of the
original intent, they said they’d review
it.
A similar experience is taking place
across the West through so-called travel
management plans. Originally intended
to minimize damage from off-road vehi-
cles, it quickly became a powerful tool
to close roads and shut people out of
their forests.
What happened in the Wallowa-Whit-
man National Forest is a classic case in
Parties should stick to the wolf plan
What is the worth of a word? It used
to mean a lot. It used to be enough. A
handshake closed deals, whether selling a
neighbor hay or a piece of land. A verbal
promise was binding, even in the courts,
but unfortunately times change and writ-
ten contracts with a signature now bind
those legally, to keep that promise, that
handshake.
Example: the Oregon Wolf Plan,
touted by some as one of the best in the
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the Editor are subject to
editing and should be limited to 275
words. Writers should also include
a phone number with their signature
so we can call to verify identity. The
Chieftain does not run anonymous
letters.
You can submit a letter to the Wal-
lowa County Chieftain in person; by
mail to P.O. Box 338, Enterprise, OR
97828; by email to editor@wallowa.
com; or via the submission form at the
newspaper’s website, located at wal-
lowa.com. (Drop down the “Opinion”
menu on the navigation bar to see the
relevant link).
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Wallowa County
Out-of-County
GUEST
COLUMN
point. After years of community meet-
ings, public workshops and incredible
efforts to update the government’s faulty
maps, a forest supervisor decided she
knew better. Her choice of a manage-
ment plan was such an affront that more
than 900 people packed a meeting in La
Grande in protest. I, too, was incensed
and called upon the Forest Service to
withdraw the plan, and they did. But the
damage was done. How can people be
expected to have faith in a public pro-
cess when they see outcomes like these?
Meanwhile, other threats loom on
these same people. From the onerous
“waters of the United States” rules, to
threats of more national monuments, the
federal government is aggressively try-
ing to get cattle off the range and people
off their public lands.
The Hammonds were tried and con-
victed under a law written after the
Oklahoma City bombing.
The presiding judge in the case made
clear that its penalties when applied to a
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didn’t make sense. But a court found he
lacked the authority to invoke a lesser
sentence.
We need to revisit the 1996 law that
landed the Hammonds with a punish-
ment disproportionate to the severity
of the crime. I’m working with my col-
leagues to do just that.
We need to have the president under-
stand that more monuments may bring
cheers from certain companies and com-
munities, but in reality they leave behind
more mistrust and mismanagement.
And those not familiar with the high
desert of the West need to understand
what we face before they quickly con-
demn the frustration and anger that is so
evident.
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LETTERS to the EDITOR
nation. Ranchers didn’t like it, so they
wrote a minority addendum, but have
adhered to the plan as written. However,
despite the written words in the plan, sev-
eral groups have sued once, and are now
stating their intent to sue again, to reverse
the recent delisting of the wolf in Oregon.
What say you Rob Klavins? What is
the worth of a word?
Ramona Phillips
Joseph
Thanks for the
memories
After 32 years working with the State
of Oregon Aging and People with Dis-
abilities, I have retired.
Hired in 1983, I lived through the ad-
PLQLVWUDWLRQVRIVL[JRYHUQRUV¿YHPDQ-
agers, four agency name changes, three
agency “reorganizations” and two public
employee strikes.
Over the years, I conducted Adult Pro-
tective Service investigations, licensed
over 15 adult foster homes, served with
our State Field Review team, trained case
managers, led the committee that spon-
sored legislation forming the Wallowa
County Health Care District, served on
advisory councils to Community Con-
nection, Safe Harbors and the Alcohol
and Drug and Transportation programs,
and worked with scores of families to
help them obtain needed medical and so-
cial services.
In 2004, I assumed specialized work
with nursing home residents. Two years
ago I was reassigned to work in the La
*UDQGHRI¿FH2YHUWKH\HDUV,HVWLPDWH
that I have driven more than 350,000
miles in the line of duty.
But these will not be the best mem-
ories that I take with me. The memories
I cherish are those of the many individ-
uals and their families who allowed me
into their lives for a short while to assist
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much from each of you, observing your
courage, strength, kindness, dignity and
faith. I will recall that I met and worked
with wonderful and compassionate care
providers throughout the nine counties of
Eastern Oregon. You have enriched my
life immeasurably. A heartfelt thank you.
Pam Latta
Joseph
WHERE TO WRITE
Washington, D.C.
The White House, 1600 Pennsyl-
vania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.
20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-
1111; Switchboard: 202-456-1414.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516
+DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ :DVK-
ington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-
5244. E-mail: wayne_kinney@wyden.
senate.gov Web site: http://wyden.
senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313
+DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ :DVK-
ington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-
3753. E-mail: senator@merkley.sen-
ate.gov. Fax: 202-228-3997.
2UHJRQRI¿FHVLQFOXGH2QH:RUOG
Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St.,
Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and
310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pend-
leton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-
3386; 541-278-1129. Fax: 503-326-
2990.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R — (Sec-
ond District) 1404 Longworth Build-
ing, Washington D.C. 20515. Phone:
202-225-6730. No direct e-mail be-
cause of spam. Web site: www.walden.
house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Med-
IRUG RI¿FH 1RUWK &HQWUDO 6XLWH
112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-
776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204.
Pending Bills: For information on
bills in Congress, Phone: 202-225-
1772.