I have had just about enough of these fucking anti-government, "states-rights," destructive criminals.
Criminals, yes that is what they are.
When will federal or state governments finally just say "Enough!" and arrest some people, which is exactly what they deserve.
Idaho, this means you.
Protesters gathered to illegally dredge for gold on Tuesday in an Idaho river where such mining is banned, in an open challenge to the U.S. government's authority to regulate public waters and lands in Western states, an organizer said.
According to
this Reuters story, it's yet another protest against the federal government which, the miners claim, is totally preventing their god-given right to destroy pristine wild lands.
"It's a matter of states' rights," organizer John Crossman, head of the Southwest Idaho Mining Association in Boise, said in a telephone interview in which he described as overreach a recent rule by the EPA requiring permits to mine rivers in mostly Western states.
...
The miners at the protest near the town of Riggins said they hadn't sought permits to suction dredge in the river, required under the federal Clean Water Act, because they don't recognize the EPA's regulatory powers.
According to the story, the EPA says that dredging could harm habit for species such as chinook salmon, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. (Now, we all know that chinook are not, in themselves, endangered. Perhaps this particular run of salmon is endangered? Or perhaps this river's fish are considered endangered?)
The Idaho Statesman has a more detailed story.
In any case, have you ever seen a gold dredge?
Admittedly, the Idaho losers are not going to be setting up a dredge like they used in the Klondike or other mining areas a century ago.
Undoubtedly, they'll be using small dredges that can be used by just a couple of people.
But that's not the point.
These are protected waters and protected lands. They are protected for a reason, and a damn good reason at that: The land, the fish, the wildlife needs a place that is clean and that provides good habitat to feed and raise their young.
This started most prominently last spring on the Bundy ranch, when the feds allowed a tax-scofflaw to turn into a symbol of anti-government rage. It continued more recently when a group of off-roaders road their toys into sensitive habitat and protected lands in Utah.
And now it continues in Idaho, where another group of wackjobs will again defy U.S. law as they thumb their noses at legal and needed regulations.
When is this bullshit going to end?
The federal government needs to make an example of some people, prominent examples.
Throw them in fucking jail, and the sooner, the better.
11:41 AM PT: Updated diary with link to Idaho Statesman news story of this event. See http://www.idahostatesman.com/...