As I mentioned in an earlier post, the federal land grab over the years has been nothing short of breathtakingly unconstitutional! This usurpation is in direct conflict with the Constitution's "Enclave Clause".
But it doesn't stop there. For some time now, presidents have been relying on the Antiquities Act of 1906 to condone the seizure of vast amounts of sovereign State territory for the purpose of establishing "national monuments" which has the effect of denying access to and use of millions of acres of State land irrespective of the seizure's local economic impact.
The Antiquities Act specifies that designated areas must cover “the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected.” The first monument created under the Antiquities Act, Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming, covers 1,347 acres, less than 3 square miles. The monument covers the Devil’s Tower itself — nothing more.
But, give the feds the authority and they will surely exceed all commonsense and statutory restraints--AND with barely a hint of resistance from our spineless States, which have morphed into mere vassals of our federal lord and master.
For example, Obama designated Bears Ears Nat'l Monument which encompasses 1.35m acres (2100 sq miles!). Clinton designated the Grand Staircase Escalante Nat'l Monument, a 1.9m grab encompassing nearly 3,000 sq miles!
And nary a peep of protest from our hat-in-hand, submissive States which continue to bow and scrape before Leviathan. Sickening.
Why do I bother?
