http://travislongcore.net/2016/01/09/i-stand-with-linda-sue-beck-the-attack-on-science-at-malheur-national-wildlife-refuge/
QuoteLinda Sue Beck. It is at her desk that Ammon Bundy, leader of the group of armed anti-government religious fanatics occupying Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, has set up shop. As a federal biologist, like my father was for decades, she works to steward the resources that are held in common trust for all Americans. My stomach turned as the report came through the radio today â€" approaching a week into the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge â€" and I heard the descriptions of the Bundys picking through her belongings and ridiculing her work.
“She’s not here working for the people,†Ammon’s brother Ryan is quoted as saying. “She’s not benefiting America. She’s part of what’s destroying America.â€
The occupiers of the refuge poke fun at Beck, her research on fish, and the normal trappings of a research station, including a dried bird in a storage area. They incredulously claim that the bird is “what they’re going to kill people over.†Presumably “they†is the federal government, and they mean to convey that Nature â€" the birds, the fish, the land â€" has no use or value.
These sentiments run counter to American history of conservation and scientific land management. The wildlife refuge system was started because the visionary Teddy Roosevelt could see that the continent risked losing its iconic wildlife if every species and every place was fair game to be hunted. Malheur was one of the first wildlife refuges, established in 1908, and became part of the growing field of scientific wildlife management that came to fruition in the United States.
Science and the National Wildlife Refuges are intertwined, with an entire model of species conservation and management emerging from regulated hunting and fishing with wildlife refuges at its core. National Wildlife Refuges are places where pathbreaking scientific research has taken place that has led to the great breakthroughs of wildlife management: research on the impacts of lead shot and its replacement by steel shot, the effects of DDT and its subsequent ban, and of course the impacts of harvest on fish and game populations. I know; refuge names were etched into my adolescent vocabulary as my father’s research sites. Patuxent. Missisquoi. Moosehorn. National Wildlife Refuges are secular shrines to wildlife science and scientific management. Do politics and consensus play a role in their management? Certainly, but the National Wildlife Refuges and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are built on the bulwark of the science of wildlife and fisheries sciences.
The armed takeover of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is, therefore, not just an attack on a federal property. It cuts deeper than that. It is an attack on the modern science-based approach to land management and it is an attack on the value and worth of science and scientists in the United States. This should not come as a surprise. The armed occupiers are extremist Mormons â€" one of them identified himself as “Captain Moroni†(a figure from the Book of Mormon) and Ammon Bundy describes his actions as the result of consultation with “the Lord.†The occupiers are photographed kneeling in prayer at the refuge. In Linda Sue Beck’s office. Attacks on science from those with extremist religious views are now an unfortunate part of the American political landscape.
Swirling around the Bundys is a maelstrom of conservative malcontents that trace their roots back to the “wise use†movement of the 1980s with its decidedly anti-intellectual and anti-scientific take on the management of public lands. Set aside the ownership of the land â€" Bundy and the self-styled “patriot†militias of the West fundamentally question the scientific basis for land management.
Unfortunately, the ill-informed reporters sent to cover the slow-motion catastrophe in Oregon fall into the rhetorical trap of the Bundys and their anti-scientific talk-radio enablers. When the occupiers blithely talk of putting the land “to use†again (as if scientific research, recreation, hunting, fishing, education, and all manner of public access were not “useâ€), the CNN reporter mindlessly repeats the trope, implying that the occupiers have a legitimate demand in wanting to work the land, as if it were some sort of de Tocquevillian tragedy that one of the most productive migratory bird stopover sites on the Pacific flyway was not being overrun with cattle by the ranchers from Utah. No, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge does not need to be worked, and CNN should have reporters that know better than to take the claim at face value.
So I stand with Linda Sue Beck and all of the federal scientists who serve to research, protect, and manage our federal lands. I stand with the scientists, who are under siege, by anti-intellectual know-nothings in the halls of Congress, by vapid inciters on talk radio, and now by armed religious extremists in their very offices. It is time for America to stand up as well.
As a long time outdoorsman and an individual who has donated and participated in conservation efforts, this really makes my blood boil. The same ignorant attitude is on display every time the issues of land use vs. land exploitation comes up. There has been a decades long battle between conservation groups and ignorant pinheads like the Bundys that would simply use the land as they saw fit and destroy it in the process.
Running cattle and sheep on federal lands was an issue back when I was a child. Both are invasive species in how they impact the environment. If allowed to do so, the Bundys and their like would simply deplete the land of resources for their own benefit. In doing so they would crowd out wildlife and native species, to the point of literally destroying the land; native species do not deplete resources but are part of the natural cycle that replenishes over time. Cattle and sheep eat plants all the way to the ground, leaving nothing to regenerate. A herd of sheep left untouched would deplete vast acreages in short order, leaving nothing for deer, elk and other ruminants.
If somebody puts a bullet through that fucker's head I won't grieve over his remains.
The irony is that the NRA and other (former) hunter's groups have traditionally supported wildlife conservation. Now they support a group of semi literate ranchers that are all pissed off because they are made to work in an ethical conservative way with nature. Fuck every one of them.
So when will the army, the state troopers, or whatever is supposed to represent the authorities, put an end to this circus?
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 15, 2016, 09:48:50 AM
So when will the army, the state troopers, or whatever is supposed to represent the authorities, put an end to this circus?
You got me, JP. Guarantee I won't go anywhere near the place because I would plug any one of those fuckers right between the eyes. Apparently being a white rancher in Oregon gives you more rights than a black man in the inner city, or something. Makes no sense to me.
The militants want a confrontation with the government. Gives them a stage to play martyr on. There's no "win" for the US public at this point, just damage control.
New tac nuke test site ;-)
Stromboli ... get with the program already, the NRA became the thug arm of the R-party back in 1980. They aren't about hunting, they are about neo-Nazis.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 15, 2016, 12:59:06 PM
The militants want a confrontation with the government. Gives them a stage to play martyr on. There's no "win" for the US public at this point, just damage control.
Agreed, but I'd like to see the strongest condemnation possible from every quarter. Surprisingly the LDS church was one of the first to do so, which raised their stock among liberals and lowered it among conservatives. Still a smart move IMO.
Quote from: Baruch on January 15, 2016, 01:08:21 PM
New tac nuke test site ;-)
Stromboli ... get with the program already, the NRA became the thug arm of the R-party back in 1980. They aren't about hunting, they are about neo-Nazis.
I know. I was a member prior to that. It used to be a hunter's organization that worked with the government and even funded some conservation efforts. Ducks Unlimited, a hunting group, has contributed more for wetlands preservation than any other private group.
@Gawdzilla: I made a comment on one of your posts in another thread that, in retrospect, might have been seen as an insult. It wasn't meant to be. I have the greatest respect for you and your contributions here, so if you have felt slighted at any point I can only say it was unintentional.
Quote from: stromboli on January 15, 2016, 01:21:56 PM
@Gawdzilla: I made a comment on one of your posts in another thread that, in retrospect, might have been seen as an insult. It wasn't meant to be. I have the greatest respect for you and your contributions here, so if you have felt slighted at any point I can only say it was unintentional.
(http://rationalia.com/z/cranky.gif)
Er, must have missed. Let the dead past bury its dead. (http://rationalia.com/z/cheers.gif)
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 15, 2016, 09:48:50 AM
So when will the army, the state troopers, or whatever is supposed to represent the authorities, put an end to this circus?
They aren't even present at the site anymore; the "occupiers" are allowed to come and go as they please. Given that... not any time soon.
I realise the political shitstorm that was ensue but... I just cant imagine why the government would allow armed terrorists to hold a federal building with no backlash. This is the type of thing the full force of national guard should come down on.
The lunatics want to be martyred. They drool over another Ruby Ridge. Troops would be the worst response in this case. Disdain will infuriate them.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 15, 2016, 05:14:46 PM
The lunatics want to be martyred. They drool over another Ruby Ridge. Troops would be the worst response in this case. Disdain will infuriate them.
Much as I'd like to see some action, the present policy is the best. Let America get tired of these idiots and ffuck sakes, stop these idiots sending them food.
Quote from: stromboli on January 15, 2016, 05:56:58 PM
Much as I'd like to see some action, the present policy is the best. Let America get tired of these idiots and ffuck sakes, stop these idiots sending them food.
But please do keep sending them dildos.
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 15, 2016, 09:48:50 AM
So when will the army, the state troopers, or whatever is supposed to represent the authorities, put an end to this circus?
They don't want a repeat of Waco, obviously. They should just be flipped the bird, and ignored, just as other protests are ignored. No need for riot gear, or tear gas, or night-sticks, or water canons, and all that stuff they also don't need in other protest situations.
I don't think of them as terrorists, as long as no one's been hurt or killed. They're just protesting in a manner that is unusual, and not gunning down civillians, or even harming the birds (I hope). Fortunately, those
bird-watchers (https://news.vice.com/article/birdwatchers-have-their-feathers-ruffled-over-oregon-occupiers) are probably keeping an eye on them.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 15, 2016, 04:11:29 PM
(http://rationalia.com/z/cranky.gif)
Er, must have missed. Let the dead past bury its dead. (http://rationalia.com/z/cheers.gif)
It's too bad that's not what zombies do...
Zombies ignore their dead.
Not very empathetic, huh?
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 15, 2016, 05:14:46 PM
The lunatics want to be martyred. They drool over another Ruby Ridge. Troops would be the worst response in this case. Disdain will infuriate them.
And making the government looking completely incapable of dealing with domestic terrorism is a better alternative?
The law is the law is the law; either we want equal treatment under it or we don't.
Aren't they just exercising their right of assembly?
Quote from: Unbeliever on January 15, 2016, 07:54:13 PM
Aren't they just exercising their right of assembly?
No.
QuoteCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceablyto assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Storming a place with guns and threatening violence is hardly peaceful.
So, just carrying guns (which are legal) equals a crime?
Quote from: Unbeliever on January 15, 2016, 08:00:55 PM
So, just carrying guns (which are legal) equals a crime?
No. However illegally occupying a federal building and threatening to shoot federal representatives does. Theft of government vehicles also counts as a crime.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/01/15/3740249/first-members-of-bundy-militia-arrested/
Using stolen federal vehicles to destroy government property likewise is a crime.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/01/15/3739909/oregon-standoff-malheur-grand-jury-explainer/
In the same link; declaring yourself above the American judicial system and establishing your own sovereign government with it's own laws is both a crime and treason.
Costing the county $70.000 a day is a crime... as is costing the federal government $63.400 a day.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/01/12/3738570/the-true-victim-of-the-bundy-occupation-is-taxpayers/
All this is doing is signaling that treason and terrorism are acceptable if you have the right complexion... as well as making the federal government appear incapable of handling things they are actually suppose to be handling. This is not a problem that is going to go away in time; these people are milking conservatives and nutjobs for donations of supplies and money while costing the federal government hundreds of thousands of dollars a week and putting good people out of work.
No... fuck them. Lets treat them like we treat any other terrorist group.
Quote from: Shiranu on January 15, 2016, 07:46:49 PM
And making the government looking completely incapable of dealing with domestic terrorism is a better alternative?
The law is the law is the law; either we want equal treatment under it or we don't.
There is no law in the US. And they are unmolested ... because they are agents of the State, like the boys from Chechnya. Controlled opposition attracting the real targets.
With any luck Putin will liberate N America from the putrifying Americans ;-)
Quote from: Unbeliever on January 15, 2016, 08:00:55 PM
So, just carrying guns (which are legal) equals a crime?
If you carried a gun into a bank ... you should die with your boots on, like the Dalton boys.
If you don't like right-wingers ... stop supporting their billionaire backers. For every Hitler, there is an entire industry of Krupps.
Quote from: Unbeliever on January 15, 2016, 06:13:40 PM
They don't want a repeat of Waco, obviously. They should just be flipped the bird, and ignored, just as other protests are ignored. No need for riot gear, or tear gas, or night-sticks, or water canons, and all that stuff they also don't need in other protest situations.
I don't think of them as terrorists, as long as no one's been hurt or killed. They're just protesting in a manner that is unusual, and not gunning down civillians, or even harming the birds (I hope). Fortunately, those bird-watchers (https://news.vice.com/article/birdwatchers-have-their-feathers-ruffled-over-oregon-occupiers) are probably keeping an eye on them.
Notwithstanding that it gives a prime example to emulate should you have a beef with the government...
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 16, 2016, 02:58:43 PM
Notwithstanding that it gives a prime example to emulate should you have a beef with the government...
Better so far, than the nut who flew his light plane into the Texas IRS building a few years back.
Quote from: Shiranu on January 15, 2016, 07:46:49 PM
And making the government looking completely incapable of dealing with domestic terrorism is a better alternative?
The law is the law is the law; either we want equal treatment under it or we don't.
You solution is...
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 16, 2016, 04:14:37 PM
You solution is...
Close off the area. Shut down power, water, and gas. No resources in or out. They'll come out.
Sent from Hell
Quote from: The Skeletal Atheist on January 16, 2016, 04:21:19 PM
Close off the area. Shut down power, water, and gas. No resources in or out. They'll come out.
Sent from Hell
But-but- out of desperation they will start killing and eating each other. Oh wait.....
Quote from: Unbeliever on January 15, 2016, 08:00:55 PM
So, just carrying guns (which are legal) equals a crime?
No, but walk in a Post Office with one and see what happens.
Sent from Hell
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 16, 2016, 04:14:37 PM
You solution is...
My solution? We actually uphold a reasonable law that armed insurrectionists are criminals and traitors. The U.S. Code already addresses how we treat these people and we should follow it.
Before anything else we do what Skeletal said; cut off any utilities and blockade the area. At this point they are given a choice; leave the compound and only face the criminal charges above or stay and be charged with treason and terrorism. Anyone who leaves now will be treated fairly and have a chance at a reduced sentence if they provide any information useful to bringing these people down. After this anyone attempting to aide them will be charged under U.S. Code 2383 as assisting and aiding in an armed insurrection.
QuoteWhoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
Then they have a choice; once they begin to starve and decide to make their move they can either face either of the consequences of code 2381; they can retaliate and be killed or lay down their weapons and face the necessary 5 years + criminal charges against them.
QuoteWhoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
Of course they also face charges of sedition...
QuoteIf two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
...but I think we should be generous and save that for the leaders and anyone who wants to stand with them instead of renouncing their allege nice to their "sovereign state".
There are several other laws... but I think this gives us a pretty clear outline on how to deal with these people. What good is a government that cannot even stand up against armed insurrection within it's own borders? These people need to be made an example of... otherwise we will just see this shit more and more often. Letting the first Bundy group getaway with what they wanted without heavy penalty already destroyed credibility of the government and lo-and-behold they think they can get away with it again.
They want to be an "armed sovereign state"... so be it. Let them face the consequences.
In any case as Gawdzilla has pointed out, an armed intervention would be a bad idea. I would cut power off to the station, though I understand it has a reserve generator and fuel for vehicles. If they need to use the vehicles, pick them off when they are in town for car theft, which has already happened. These people will look stupider the longer it goes.
Quote from: stromboli on January 16, 2016, 08:30:48 PM
In any case as Gawdzilla has pointed out, an armed intervention would be a bad idea. I would cut power off to the station, though I understand it has a reserve generator and fuel for vehicles. If they need to use the vehicles, pick them off when they are in town for car theft, which has already happened. These people will look stupider the longer it goes.
In Liddell Hart's outstanding book
Strategy, it would be called a typical Medieval siege warfare. You think the governor and the generals at the Pentagon have read that book?
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 18, 2016, 08:57:37 AM
In Liddell Hart's outstanding book Strategy, it would be called a typical Medieval siege warfare. You think the governor and the generals at the Pentagon have read that book?
No. And they probably haven't read Sun Tzu's "Art of War" either.
Quote from: stromboli on January 18, 2016, 09:07:23 AM
No. And they probably haven't read Sun Tzu's "Art of War" either.
American senior officers are bureaucrats and politicians in fancy uniforms. How many wars has the US won since 1945? The Cold War doesn't count ... the Polish Pope won that for the West. Certainly no American officer knew anything about Vietnam, before we went in to civilize them.
Quote from: stromboli on January 18, 2016, 09:07:23 AM
No. And they probably haven't read Sun Tzu's "Art of War" either.
Never been to the Army War College I see.
Quote from: stromboli on January 18, 2016, 09:07:23 AM
No. And they probably haven't read Sun Tzu's "Art of War" either.
I can imagine they're still playing X-COM: TERROR FROM THE DEEP. But even that should feed them enough ideas to root out those ragtag hoodlums parading as a militia of some sort.
Its one thing to face a crowd of rioters with rocks and a hand gun or two and quite another to take on a militia of armed semi-trained whack-jobs.
As I wrote so eloquently many a year ago in a book that has yet to be submitted: "It's easy to squash a dare in Tienanmen Square, not so, in the land of Yosemite Sam"
Quote from: aitm on January 18, 2016, 01:05:59 PM
Its one thing to face a crowd of rioters with rocks and a hand gun or two and quite another to take on a militia of armed semi-trained whack-jobs.
As I wrote so eloquently many a year ago in a book that has yet to be submitted: "It's easy to squash a dare in Tienanmen Square, not so, in the land of Yosemite Sam"
The mob has guns, that would be the major difference. Otherwise, it's just another mob.
Turn it into a pissed off horny adult male grizzly bear breeding ground .
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 18, 2016, 01:21:32 PM
The mob has guns, that would be the major difference. Otherwise, it's just another mob.
as in the minutemen.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 18, 2016, 09:27:59 AM
Never been to the Army War College I see.
Reading and understanding are not the same. Uncle Ho won, not the US.
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 18, 2016, 09:57:33 AM
I can imagine they're still playing X-COM: TERROR FROM THE DEEP. But even that should feed them enough ideas to root out those ragtag hoodlums parading as a militia of some sort.
If only our enemies were like a situation in Zelda, then our young and not so young video gamers would be able to slay that dragon ;-)
Quote from: aitm on January 18, 2016, 05:12:54 PM
as in the minutemen.
Ah, you think the local mobs won the Revolutionary War?
Quote from: Baruch on January 18, 2016, 05:15:13 PM
Reading and understanding are not the same. Uncle Ho won, not the US.
The political will wasn't there. And anyway, you think the Army War College teaches tiddly-winks?
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 18, 2016, 05:32:48 PM
The political will wasn't there. And anyway, you think the Army War College teaches tiddly-winks?
I read history, including about generals and the BS they get up to. I will take a sergeant who knows his shit, over a general, any day.
So, it would be better if we had the political will .... like nuke China and Russia over Korea/Vietnam? I am glad we chickened out. I don't need to prove how big my gonads are. Besides, I have never disliked communists enough to kill them just for being communists. The whole point of Vietnam ... was making dough for the MIC ... and it did. That is why the un-war on un-terror will never end ... it pays the bills.
I used to kill 'em for $247/month.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 18, 2016, 06:45:48 PM
I used to kill 'em for $247/month.
And that is why Shoe doesn't like you ... we are supposed to kill for free ;-)
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 18, 2016, 05:32:20 PM
Ah, you think the local mobs won the Revolutionary War?
OF course not, we had a well trained professional army of squirrel and duck hunters.
Quote from: aitm on January 18, 2016, 09:33:43 PM
OF course not, we had a well trained professional army of squirrel and duck hunters.
Who could shoot the eye out of a turkey with Kentucky rifles, gol' darn it.
Quote from: aitm on January 18, 2016, 09:33:43 PM
OF course not, we had a well trained professional army of squirrel and duck hunters.
Or a horde of Elmer Fudd... IMHUNTINWABBITS
Quote from: aitm on January 18, 2016, 09:33:43 PM
OF course not, we had a well trained professional army of squirrel and duck hunters.
And a French army and fleet. Otherwise we would still be in a stalemate.
Quote from: stromboli on January 18, 2016, 09:39:50 PM
Who could shoot the eye out of a turkey with Kentucky rifles, gol' darn it.
Kentucky rifles is ... War of 1812. Minutemen fought with accurate watches ;-)
Quote from: josephpalazzo on January 19, 2016, 06:12:47 AM
Or a horde of Elmer Fudd... IMHUNTINWABBITS
Yosemite Sam ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frn_LiljdQ0
Quote from: Baruch on January 18, 2016, 09:13:05 PM
And that is why Shoe doesn't like you ... we are supposed to kill for free ;-)
That was later on.
In regards to the Revolutionary war you can throw in a gay Polish general to boot. We didn't win the war without lots of help from France and other outside forces. Good thing ol' Ben was over there banging all the old broads to get influence in the French aristocracy. History is akin to a swamp full of bodies that looks pristine on the surface but can really get odious if you do some digging.
Quote from: stromboli on January 19, 2016, 09:46:35 AM
In regards to the Revolutionary war you can throw in a gay Polish general to boot. We didn't win the war without lots of help from France and other outside forces. Good thing ol' Ben was over there banging all the old broads to get influence in the French aristocracy. History is akin to a swamp full of bodies that looks pristine on the surface but can really get odious if you do some digging.
The funny part is that it was the rich people, the ones controlling the trades, who didn't want to pay the king his "awful" tax, started the so-called revolution. At least in France, the revolution started with the discontent of common people. Ok, I'm bite-sounding 50 years of history in a couple of sentences...
Thomas Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and the lot were, besides being free thinkers, capable of doing what they found necessary to make a few shillings on the side. Fortunately for us they were willing to buck the status quo. Unfortunately for us, the current crop of wealthy .5% is the product of a status quo that has gotten them entrenched at the top and they want to keep it that way.
Quote from: Baruch on January 15, 2016, 08:37:46 PM
With any luck Putin will liberate N America from the putrifying Americans ;-)
Are you Putin me on?
Putin on the Ritz:
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7emG7bMqJiU/maxresdefault.jpg)
Has anyone mentioned the possibility of revoking their gun licenses? They certainly can't claim to be any part of a "militia" while behaving as they are.
I expect they'll soon be considered rightly risible, and laughed away.
Quote from: Unbeliever on January 19, 2016, 05:19:43 PM
Has anyone mentioned the possibility of revoking their gun licenses? They certainly can't claim to be any part of a "militia" while behaving as they are.
I expect they'll soon be considered rightly risible, and laughed away.
Gun licenses? GUN LICENSES?
THIS IS MURRICA'!!! WE DON'T NEED YOUR COMMIE GUN LINCENSES!!!!!!!!!!!!1one
(http://img.pandawhale.com/post-12038-Inhale-freedom-Exhale-patrioti-XUTu.jpeg)
I wonder how they're making out with the stuff their chums are sending?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOzRl6pdYBs
They could hold a yard sale...
Quote from: stromboli on January 19, 2016, 12:25:40 PM
Thomas Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and the lot were, besides being free thinkers, capable of doing what they found necessary to make a few shillings on the side. Fortunately for us they were willing to buck the status quo. Unfortunately for us, the current crop of wealthy .5% is the product of a status quo that has gotten them entrenched at the top and they want to keep it that way.
The King is dead! Long live the King! Just as long as all of them are named Geoge ;-(