The Western states are home to a stealth campaign by
libertarians who – under the guise of reforming eminent
domain – are out to destroy all land-use planning through
"takings" ballot initiatives
Magazine

July 24, 2006
The Western states are home to a stealth campaign by libertarians who – under the guise of reforming eminent domain – are out to destroy all land-use planning through "takings" ballot initiatives. Also in this issue: Even as Western states debate the best way to look after their roadless areas, logging, drilling and mining are already happening on some formerly protected lands.
Feature
Sidebar
Dorothy English weighs in on the pros – and cons
– of Oregon’s Measure 37
Bill Roses weigh in on the pros – and cons –
of Oregon’s Measure 37
Ted Schroeder weighs in on the pros – and cons
– of Oregon’s Measure 37
A detailed graph sums up the status of the current
"takings’ initiative campaigns in six Western
states
Jim Miller weighs in on the pros – and cons –
of Oregon’s Measure 37
Renee Ross weighs in on the pros – and cons –
of Oregon’s Measure 37
Editor's Note
Ray Ring’s cover story on the libertarian stealth
campaign to put "takings" initiatives on Western ballots is the
biggest untold political story of the year
Uncommon Westerners
Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva loves fighting for
old-fashioned liberal causes like immigration rights, the
environment, unions and strong social programs
Essays
The experience of watching a mountain lion is utterly
transformed when the watcher realizes he is the one being
watched
Perspective
The Democratic bloggers on the netroots seem to be prone
to wildly optimistic self-delusion – and then again, maybe
they’re not so crazy after all
Book Reviews
In Blithe Tomato, Mike Madison writes
engagingly about working the land on a small farm in
California’s Central Valley
In Ogallala Blue: Water and Life on the Great
Plains, William Ashworth examines the effects of
groundwater dependency in a dry land
In his new book, The Worst Hard Time,
Tim Egan interviews survivors to tell the story of the great
American Dust Bowl on the southern Great Plains in the
1930s
Heard Around the West
"Pit bulls with flippers" in Newport Beach; mountain lion
problems; Lewis the Cat; don’t try this on the highway;
Fighting Sioux fight for sports team name
Dear Friends
Summer editorial retreat, global warming booklet is here,
lots of summer visitors
News
Western states debate the best way to look after their
roadless areas even as logging, drilling and mining move in on
formerly protected lands
New Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne junks Gale
Norton’s controversial Park Service proposal; New
Mexico’s Nantac Mexican wolf pack killed; Justice Department
removes Judge Royce Lamberth from Indian trust case
Even as raising sturgeon for caviar takes off in the San
Francisco Bay-Delta area, the region's wild sturgeon are in serious
trouble, along with the rest of the Bay-Delta’s
ecology
In Missoula, Mont., and other Western communities,
activists search for the winning formula to pass new open-space
bonds in November
Endangered aplomado falcons already in New Mexico may lose
protection under a controversial Fish and Wildlife Service plan to
release captive-bred birds as a "nonessential experimental
population."
Farmers and conservationists have reached a settlement
that allows water to flow in California’s San Joaquin River,
home to the Friant Dam
Letters
Today's Featured Stories
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SOUTHWEST BORDERLANDS INITIATIVE PROFESSOR OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE NEWS MEDIA Southwest Borderlands Initiative Professor of Native Americans and the News Media The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is...
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MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AWF seeks an energetic Marketing and Communications Director. Please see the full job description at https://azwildlife.org/jobs
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DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS SW REGION The Southwest Communications Director will be responsible for working with field staff in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico to develop and execute detailed communication plans...
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THE SILVER LEAF CO-HOUSING DEVELOPMENT An intentional community designed for aging in place. Green built with Pumice-crete construction (R32), bamboo flooring, pine doors, T&G ceiling with fans, and maintenance free...
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE OIL & GAS (CFROG) is a Ventura County, CA based watch-dog and advocacy non-profit organization. cfrog.org
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TED SCRIPPS FELLOWSHIPS IN ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM Take your journalism skills to the next level and deepen your understanding of environmental issues by applying for the 2019-2020 Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental...
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Winter Wildlands Alliance seeks an experienced and highly motivated individual to lead and manage the organization as Executive...
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CONSERVATION DIRECTOR The San Juan Mountains Association is seeking a visionary leader to spearhead its public lands stewardship program in southwest Colorado. For a detailed job description...
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY The Cascade Forest Conservancy seeks a passionate ED to lead our forest protection, conservation, education, and advocacy programs.
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HUNTING ADVOCACY NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mountain Pursuit is a new, bold, innovative, western states, hunting advocacy nonprofit headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming. We need a courageous, hard working, passionate Executive Director...
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CURATOR, DRAPER NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM The Draper Natural History Museum (DNHM) at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center of the West in Cody, WY, invites applications for the Willis McDonald, IV...
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WANTED TO BUY Couple seeks quiet, private, off-grid acreage in area with no/low cell phone service and no/low snowfall. Conservation/bordering public lands a plus. CA, OR, WA, ID,...
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SEEKING BREAKOUT LEADER AND COMMUNICATIONS/DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN SE UTAH Conservation nonprofit Friends of Cedar Mesa in Bluff, Utah is hiring for two positions: Communications & Development Manager/Director (remote work possible) and a Deputy Director...
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QUALIFY FOR CA INDUSTRIAL HEMP LICENSE? Former northern Sierra winery, with 2208 sq.ft. commercial building, big lot, room to expand.
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COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE The dZi Foundation is seeking a FT Communications Associate with a passion for Nepal to join our team in Ridgway, Colorado. Visit dzi.org/careers.
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EXPERT LAND STEWART Available now for site conservator, property manager. View resume at http://skills.ojaidigital.net.
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CONSERVATIONIST? IRRIGABLE LAND? Stellar seed-saving NGO is available to serious partner. Package must include financial support. Details: http://seeds.ojaidigital.net.
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OWN YOUR OWN CANYON - 1400 SF STRAW-BALE ECO-HOME ON 80 ACRES - 3 HOURS FROM L.A. 1400 sf of habitable space in a custom-designed eco-home created and completed by a published L.A. architect in 1997-99. Nestled within its own 80-acre mountain...
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40 ACRE ORGANIC FARM Suitable for planting hay, hemp, fruit. Excellent water rights. 1800 square foot farmhouse, outbuildings, worker housing.