COMPROMISING DEMOCRACY: The Rise and Fall of the Second Conquest of Western Rangelands

Few authors have covered the impact on federal rangelands of the political right's attempt to reverse the influence of the environmental laws passed in the 70s and 80s and the GOP's assault on federal courts and plaintiff's attorneys. Shepherd illustrates the critical role of federal courts not only in the protection of public lands and how the Bush administration has set about dismantling this court system as part of its attack on "activist" judges and plaintiff's lawyers, but the fundamental principles of democracy.

Shepherd is an attorney specializing in natural resources and water rights issues. He has 16 years of experience in natural resource and water law and has an undergraduate degree in rangeland ecology. Shepherd lives in Moab, UT with his wife, two dogs and two cats.?Praise for Harold Shepherd??Shepherd shines new light on how back room deals and political power mongers as far away as Washington D.C. are impacting on the ground management and protection of Western public rangelands.? George Wuerthner the Foundation for Deep Ecology ?Shepherd takes the reader on a fascinating and informative tour of public lands livestock grazing and the affects on plant communities, wildlife, riparian management and water. The book illustrates how efforts to reverse environmental regulations and how attempts to stack federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court with ideologue judges is changing the face of the public domain belonging to every American.? Larry Tuttle, Center for Environmental Equity