"Oregon Rancher Standoff" Reflection

     The self-styled militia is protesting against the government for their regulations and owning to much land. Members of the militia group broke into the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, are armed and standing ground. They are trying to help the people of Harney County to claim back their lands and resources. Ranchers are having trouble getting and owning more land to raise cattle because of their financial problems. Instead, they are leasing federal lands to sustain their operation; the federal government controls a large amount of land in the west. The federal government's regulations on these lands are seen as "unfair"; it limits the ranchers' freedom of of full use of the lands. The militia is also protesting the arson convictions of the Oregon ranchers, the Hammonds, who are in jail for 5 years for burning BLM lands. The militia thinks there is "too much government" abusing their power and limiting the people's freedom. They believe enough is enough. Right now the best approach that is being done is waiting the group out in the hopes that the protesting will die off. 

      I think the standoff is going too far. I think they should try a different approach, like setting up a private meeting to talk about their differences instead of the protest or violence. Maybe this can help to come to an agreement or make things more civilized. I think the government can make this happen because they have higher authority to set up a private meeting. I think the Hammonds are going to be hurt by the standoff. People might get mad at the Hammonds for unintentionally starting the standoff. What I think this is doing to the Refuge is causing bigger problems on the land. For the ranchers, I think the standoff is harming their reputation because they can also be looked down upon if the militia does something bad. For the taxpayers, the standoff is costing them a lot of money.