Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
The entire congressional delegation from my neighboring state of Nebraska has written a letter to EPA Commissar Lisa Jackson to ask why it is -- and under whose authority -- the rogue agency has been using unmanned drones to spy on...cattle ranchers. That's right.
Under some mind-numbing interpretation of the Clean Water Act, the EPA has been sending up spy drones to count cows in feedlots in Nebraska and Iowa. And who knows what else they've been checking out? It's outrageous. I'll leave it up to the many sharp legal minds on Ricochet to explain -- or rail against -- this kind of encroachment.
Out here in the fly-over states, we are sometimes accused of being the embodiment of the "black helicopter crowd." Maybe there's something to that, since there are so many federal agencies running our land and lives. But when you find out the EPA has hundreds of armed federal agents and now they're using spy drones to intimidate ranchers... what is one to think?
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Aug '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Howdy CJ
Hey, it's black helicopters on the west side of the state, here in MO they're just preening powerfreaks .
Imagine the poor sap who is calculating how much urine and manure are being produced relative to the acrefeet of water that the govt decides they can have for all purposes ? Wonder what they call him in the breakroom ?
These folks have better things to do .
Very quietly flownover on their way to the pig waste containments of the region ( super secret tourist destination ).
Jul '11
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
I would think that some people might think the federal government is at war with them.
They have videos on how to shoot these down by the way and even though the conversation is on the level of two guys discussing noodling for catfish I like watching things get blown up.
Mar '11
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Nothing to worry about - Mr Obama has to approve anyone who is on the kill list, especially US citizens. So we are all safe.
Wait a minute - are those Hellfire missiles under the wings?
Jul '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Just another item on the growing list of abuses of power that we'll get mad about...and then do absolutely nothing to stop.
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
I believe the are. But not to worry -- they're only fired when cowboys spit tobacco juice in areas not approved for that designated use.
May '12
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Cass Sunstein & Co. have been busy boys, girls, and transgenders.* They've now got their own paramilitary army and air force. Fantastic. All they'll need at this point is a navy. I've no doubt that is in the works as well.
*See Flownover's link.
Jun '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
I am, unfortunately, not keeping and bearing arms sophisticated enough to take these things out. But I guess its time to look for some...
Jul '11
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
I do not think the drones in question are what Mr Box has shown. As far as Stinger or Javelin missiles we sent our civilian supply to Mexico narco dealers in order to prove that Mexican narco dealers had them.
Nov '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
When I asked about the drones in February, I was told to relax...they are economical. Drones in U.S airspace spying on U.S. citizens is bad all around. (sorry... can't figure out how to embed the link on iPad.) http://ricochet.com/member-feed/DRONES-over-EXTON
Edited on June 5, 2012 at 3:52amJun '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Both my wife and I grew up on cattle ranches. Even back in the day the government (BLM, Forest Service, Park Service) viewed cattle ranching as an abomination. Things have gotten much worse, but this anti-cattle ranching animus goes back a long way.
The use of drones for spying on Americans is a horrible misuse of government power.
Jun '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Both my wife and I grew up on cattle ranches. Even back in the day the government (BLM, Forest Service, Park Service) viewed cattle ranching as an abomination. Things have gotten much worse, but this anti-cattle ranching animus goes back a long way.
The use of drones for spying on Americans is a horrible misuse of government power.
C.J.: If Obama stays in power you're not going to have to think up any central plot points again. The government will simply provide them to you (though they'll probably want to charge you a fee).
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Honestly, if I used this kind of thing in a novel no one would believe it. They'd consider it too over-the-top. That's one of the painful realities about writing novels set in contemporary (Western) settings. It's necessary in plotting to dial things back or they'll be perceived as too reactionary.
Sep '11
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Don't think it's just happening in Nebraska. This is actually part of a big move on "manure management planning" that is affecting everyone and anyone who keeps any kind of livestock. If you have an old pony grazing in your back yard, you have homework to do.
If you have livestock (horses, cows, goats, sheep, swine, or other livestock animals) that (combined) weigh less than 8,000 lbs., you can write your own manure management plan, and submit it to your county Extension agent for approval. If you have livestock totalling more than 8,000 lbs, you have to have a fancier plan, which must be written by a manure management specialist--with whom you must consult.
Farmers and horse trainers in my area are being summoned to a two-night (two successive Tuesday nights) for three hours, explaining the new rules. Many, many, many people with a pony in the back yard are not aware of this--I'm dreading to hear how many will be arrested (or worse, convicted) when the feds crack down.
Apr '12
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
What!! This is "do-gooder" government types (I hate to say school marm types) who think farmer types can write. If they were interested in pushing pencils, they would be working for the government. The government needs their own manure consultants because they are shoveling it.
Mar '11
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
John Murdoch:
If you have livestock (horses, cows, goats, sheep, swine, or other livestock animals) that (combined) weigh less than 8,000 lbs., you can write your own manure management plan, and submit it to your county Extension agent for approval. If you have livestock totalling more than 8,000 lbs, you have to have a fancier plan, which must be written by a manure management specialist--with whom you mustconsult.
Please cite sources for this. I have cattle which, by the end of the summer, will exceed 8,000 pounds gross weight, and I want to know where to drop the droppings.
Aug '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Thanks for the lowdown on that "st*ff" . I could smell it a state away.
Aug '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
I don't get it. The EPA is providing nice shiny targets for us to shoot at. What's the problem? That they provide glorified clay pigeons with taxpayer money?
Feb '12
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
CJ, please have Joe Pickett shoot down one of these dung drones in your next novel.
On second thought, have Nate shoot it down, since Joe can't hit anything.
Edited on June 5, 2012 at 3:47pmSep '11
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
Illiniguy
Please cite sources for this. I have cattle which, by the end of the summer, will exceed 8,000 pounds gross weight, and I want to know where to drop the droppings.
Quoting from the email from my county Extension agent:
Details then follow about when and where the county meetings will be held.
Jun '10
Re: Don't Look Up, Buckaroos
C.J. Box
Honestly, if I used this kind of thing in a novel no one would believe it. They'd consider it too over-the-top. That's one of the painful realities about writing novels set in contemporary (Western) settings. It's necessary in plotting todial things backor they'll be perceived as too reactionary.
I see your point.
Reminds me of the little boy, just back from Sunday School, telling Mom about what he learned: Moses leads the children of Israel, throws up a pontoon bridge across the Red Sea, and leads them over. Pharaoh is following with tanks across the bridge aiming to capture the Israelites. Moses order in air strikes, the bridge is destroyed, and the Egyptians are drowned.
Mom: "Billy, is that really the way your teacher told the story?"
Billy: "Well . . ., no, Mom. But if I told it the way she said it happened, you'd never believe it."
Edited on June 5, 2012 at 3:23pm