Apparently emboldened by the feds not doing much of anything about their occupation of a wildlife refuge, Ammon Bundy & Co. have started to take it a apart, using government equipment — at least in terms of dismantling some fences between the refuge and a neighboring ranch.
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/01/oregon_standoff_bundy_militant.html
And the lack of response by the feds?
'"I don't think they want to do anything," Bundy said. "I think there's a lot of good people in the federal government who feel the same way as us." Payne said the militants plan similar actions in the future.
And surrounded by news crews, no less.
Yeah, it's arguably a good thing that the feds aren't dropping drones on these guys, or rolling in the tanks. But there are also costs and consequences to apparent inaction.
Again, rightwing white male Christian privilege is priceless in this country.
Hopefully
They're starting to look like North Korea. (LOOK AT ME DOING SOMETHING BAD. Come punish me.)
+Bandito Duran There is a sense of the provocateur — if the feds don't act, then it's a "win" … if the feds do act, then they get the legitimizing they want.
The problem is, sooner or later the feds will have to act. I just hope that there's a plan on how and when that will happen.