Just wondering if anyone ever bothered to look into the real reasons this happened?
This interview with a former BLM worker is also interesting, regarding big business influencing Fed policy in the area :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNGJXDuLkdI
I don't know the whole story yet but I can tell from the posts no one here knows anything, just a bunch of bad assumptions.
BLM kicked the ranchers off the land, which they have had grazing rights to for 150 years. Supposedly it was to save some endangered turtles. Now there are too many turtles and the BLM kills the turtles. It was total bullshit, the video from the BLM whistleblower also mentions that turtles had nothing to do with the real reasons these people lost their ranches. The move has sent around 100 ranchers bankrupt.
Meanwhile Harry Reid owns property in the area, right next to the Bundy ranch.
This land was very nearly part of a huge deal to have a Chinese company build a massive solar power array. The deal fell through in 2013, but apparently some highways had been built in the area - in the middle of the desert - preparing a business corridor.
This is something a real investigative journalist should look into.
BUSTED: HARRY REID OWNS 93 ACRES NEXT TO BUNDY RANCH
Property records :
http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/PropertyRecords.aspx?H=redrock&P=assrrealprop/ownr.aspx
Laughlin solar project falls through
http://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jun/14/company-dumps-big-laughlin-solar-project-says-mark/