re: #301 wrenchwench

And for some generations, the feds encouraged it. When they got smart and realized there are limits to what a desert can do, they reduced the number of cattle all over the land and tried to save bits here and there for some wildlife, and ranchers got mad. Especially the anti-science ranchers, and the pro gas and oil ranchers. Real mad. They own one of New Mexico’s three congressmen, and many from other states.

At least the feds seem to be largely coming around to using actual environmental science. They weren’t alone in “maximizing” use of the land. IIRC, way back when the British government required Australian ranchers to have the same livestock densities on their land as the average English farm. Umm, had they ever actually, you know, looked at much of Australia? Did they note that the seasonal rainfall varied wildly? A lot of land was profoundly damaged in the process.