Author: Photographer — Journalist

FAA   PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES

§ 91.13   Careless or reckless operation

(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

(b) Aircraft operations other than for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft, other than for the purpose of air navigation, on any part of the surface of an airport used by aircraft for air commerce (including areas used by those aircraft for receiving or discharging persons or cargo), in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

Dangerous and Unsafe to Horses

Sometimes things get so far fetched and out of hand that someone, anyone, must step forward and say something.  The situation where so many Americans and taxpayers are stepping forward and “saying something” about the Wild Horse Herd Roundups, continue being ignored, is very troubling indeed.  The thing about helicopter roundups, while doing a gather of Wild Horse Herds throughout the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands is this:

Wild Horse Herd Roundups while using a helicopter to do so, are dangerous for the horses, abusive for the horses, deadly to the horses, apparently (experience and witnessed) abusive toward people stating their opposition to it, and extremely questionable in regard to “Ethical” or “Sane” standards and principles of horse management.  The abuse is ongoing and the actual killing of wild horses’ is done on a daily basis within this type of procedure, Helicopter Roundups.

Just a few of the things witnessed or video tapped in regard to helicopters used in Wild Horse Herd Roundups.

1. Helicopter pilot, while operating the helicopter, swooped down upon one horse, hit the horse with its bottom runner, pushing it over an embankment, breaking its leg, then its neck – the horse a mare, with foal, the foal so shook-up and scared also toppled over the embankment and broke its neck;
2. Another similar incident on the flats, where a helicopter pilot swooped down upon one horse, tapped it with its bottom runner, the horse scared, eventually worn out from running, collapsed – this situation happens over and over again, with no supervisory staff from the BLM telling the pilot to stop this activity, and within any of the roundups;
3. A private citizen, while searching for the roundup holding pen area, an  alone woman on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, was swooped down upon, then the pilot hovered over the woman for awhile at approximately 20 feet above her, while attempting to coerce or intimidate her to leave the area and not observe the roundup;
4. A pilot swamped a small herd of horses with the helicopters backwash.  This scared and unnerved the horses to the point of one foal being trampled to death, another older mare running until exhausted, then keeled over dead, and many more incidents of similar if not the same types of situations happening.

The fact is our government, for money, treats the Mullet or “Sucker Fish” with more respect than a horse, and that’s downright unacceptable to us all.  Also keep in mind these incidents mentioned above are in no way isolated, rather, they happen almost daily and during the wild horse herd roundups when using helicopter.

Government Property (i.e. 52.245-1 “Government property”)

Currently our government and the BLM has condoned this situation of illegal activity, malpractice, abusive behavior, lack of ethics, or lack of consideration toward animals what so ever (review list of laws at end of article).  The killing of horses continues.  This is regarded by many decent people, Americans and taxpayers, as well as horse owners, to be a situation that is totally unacceptable.

The horses are considered government property (i.e. 52.245-1 “Government property”) which means all property owned or leased by the Government, in another words owned by you and I as taxpayers.  It is that simple, yet so neglected by officials of our government and the BLM – Why?

Illegal Activity as Prescribe by 18 U.S.C. #1361

It is time either these Private Contractors, hired by the BLM, pay the government back for neglectful treatment and destruction of government property, or be fined (as prescribed by law $100,000 per occasion) and jailed (minimum 1 year in jail) as described in “1666 — Destruction of Government Property—18 U.S.C. § 1361.”  This must not and cannot be tolerated, and should have never been tolerated what so ever.

Again, it is that simple, yet so neglected by our government officials and the BLM.  As taxpayers and Americans we all ask — Why?

For proof of such conduct we can review many reports, as well as newspaper and magazine articles such as the example below.  Never the less many more articles and eyewitness details remain plentiful on the Internet and magazines alike, and referenced by videos to document the occasion:  “November 11, 2010 “BLM Roundup in Oregon Claims Lives of 9 Wild Horses in First Week.”

This story – “Another Stallion Dies after Breaking Neck”, as well as many others, are abundant.  And just as similar to many more — it continues, “Nine mustangs have died in the first week of the Bureau of Land Management roundup in the Warm Springs Herd Management Area (HMA), southwest of Burns, Oregon.”

Many articles and observations by people such as you and I remain a deadly example of helicopter roundups, and the deadly situation that exists while using them.  They are killing America’s Wild Horse’s discriminately, with callous and arrogant attitudes to follow-up and when questioned about such activities.  Most often the excuse is they are either “Just doing our jobs,” or the other which consists of finishing their job faster.  When paid “Per Head” the faster they get done the more profitable the situation is to the private contractors.  But this is at the expense and killing of many horses, government property, and taxpayers’ property, and illegal as prescribed and mentioned again here so there is no confusion, by 1666 — Destruction of Government Property—18 U.S.C. § 1361. 

Apparently, the BLM Police Force, who should know this, ignores it, why?  Does the BLM have laws that we do not know of, or do they simply feel the laws in the United States do no apply to them what so ever?  These are significant questions, not innuendo any longer, and many taxpayers and Americans alike want answers.

Harassment to a person by Helicopter Pilot at Roundup

“The helicopter,” (i.e. see FAA   PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES Rule 91-13 Careless or reckless operation), “was very low maybe twenty to thirty feet above my car. I walked to about the middle of the top of the hill and the helicopter lifted, the pilot saw me and flew over the top of me hovering and circling about twenty to thirty feet above me. I was confused and did not know what to do so I waved at him, in a kind of “Hi, What’s going on” way.”

“He was so close that I could see his face and he appeared very angry and continued to aggressively circle me and hover over me.  I was so surprised at first that I did not think to lift my camera and take a picture but as he continued to hover and follow me I remembered and took a couple of photos of the helicopter.” Lee Jones, Activist, horse owner, and practices true Horsemanship.

Miss Jones was simply a bystander at the roundup mentioned above, essentially being threatened by the pilot of the helicopter.  Ironically, she was not within proximity of the roundup what so ever.  She was also by herself, unprotected, on an isolated dirt road in the middle of nowhere, and one can even say without any imagination, “Bullied”.  We can certainly ask, how did this pilot get away with this, such an atrocity and obviously and beyond question illegal.

Some have suggested this situation occurred at the request of government authorities who were “on-site” at the time.  This is certainly an obvious violation of FAA 91-13Careless or reckless operation of that helicopter pilot’s actions (sited above), and if the government officials at that site ordered that to be done, then we have an even larger problem, surmountable to a felony, make no doubt about that.

Abuse and Killing of Wild Horses Abundant

More examples are available for review at such Internet sites as “Wild Horse Education” and “American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign” and abound with on-the-spot witnessing of these occasions.  But these Internet sites, as already mentioned, are not rare, and many are available for perusal, with information and especially non-edited “Videos” of abuses and callous roundup activity.

All are during and while using a helicopter, and in violation of the same FAA PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES 91-13 Careless and reckless operation regulation.  As well, almost all of the videos on the Internet show abuse by the helicopter pilots being abundant, and on many, many occasions.  As a matter of fact it can be said at almost “all” of the wild horse herd roundups when helicopters are used.  Also, as cited above, this type of behavior is illegal, or once again laws that pertain to the common folks inAmerica not applicable to the BLM or their private contractors?  Why not?  We need some answers here, and very soon.

BLM and Government Contractors

The helicopter companies, with ground crew to setup and coral the horses, are considered government contractors.  Consideration toward the horses does not exist at all.  When it is pointed out by spectators that the treatment is abusive, these same government contractors threaten law-suits, and costly maneuvering within the court system that costs taxpayers more money.  These threats have been abundant, ironically these same contractors use taxpayer money to file legal briefs and pay attorneys fees, as is the same with BLM administrators.  Once again everybody makes money on these Wild Horse Herd Roundups and at the expense of taxpayer money, with “0” return to the taxpayer.

There exists no reimbursement, or penalty within the contracts, toward the private contractors when they maim or kill a horse, and especially reimbursement to the taxpayers.  Above and beyond the contracts are the U.S.C. Codes of law, apparently ignored, which also define responsibilities of private contractors to manage the horses and conduct themselves in a responsible and “Legal” manner.  A contract is not needed here, or mentioned thereof to obey existing laws, in order to obey the laws first and foremost.

Taxpayers and Government Property

Make no doubt that these horses are defined as government property (i.e. 52.245-1 “Government property”).  Broken necks and broken legs are abundant as well, often leading to death, and again  are not reimbursed or compensated for at all, to the taxpayers.  There exist too many alternatives for there to be any death of horses what so ever, but are ignored by private contractors and BLM personnel alike.

Once again the taxpayers receive “the finger” from government agencies (the BLM especially) and when questioned about spending our hard earned money for activities that the majority of Americans and taxpayers are totally against.

This Journalist suggests going to the Internet and do a search yourself.  What you will find are a minimal amount of sites, to include the BLM sites, favorable to Wild Horse Herd Roundups.  In opposition to that you will find an overwhelming amount of not only Internet sites, but magazine articles, newspaper articles, and other information in regard to these roundups being unfavorable, people against the roundups, and not to be ignored, and for very specific and valid reasons.

Despite what the BLM offers as information, many other folks have observed the opposite, to include mistreatment.  Factual research and other pertinent information in regard to Wild Horse Herd Roundups are prevalent and “ALL” state beyond a doubt the roundups either unneeded, profoundly cruel, and mismanaged by the BLM.

1^st Amendment Rights Confirmed to Witness and Observe

Another situation decided by the Supreme Court, in District 9,San Francisco, states clearly that observers/press/witnesses can and should be at roundup sites.  This despite the millions of dollars the BLM spent to fight this issue in Courts; yes, our government agency versus the taxpayers, which is quite disturbing when considering their questionable conduct.  This was yet another frivolous use of taxpayer money, by the BLM, to defend a small specific special interest group, to essentially protect them from public scrutiny because of questionable and often illegal activities.

Yes, friends of legislators and attorneys, in a useless manner and attempt at taking away Constitutional Rights of all Americans, again, to make a buck for a few, and to hell with the taxpayers and Americans.

The BLM legal briefs placed in more than an obvious light, and do not want the roundups and their treatment of wild horses observed what so ever.  They lost their case!  Is this paramount to guilty?  In this case absolutely, make no doubt about that.  The Judge felt observation was required, a 1^st Amendment right to do so, by and for the public interest, to stop the insane mistreatment of horses, especially during the roundups.

This Journalist view is that we can be assured we live in a questionable time within American History.  Never has taxpayer money been used “Against Americans” within such a callous and deviant manner, by government agencies (in this case the BLM).

And yet it remains going unchecked by those entities, such as the Department of Justice, or a few legislators, as if nothing is happening at all.  Yes, once again we are confronted by yet another situation where the law only applies to a few, and evidently not the people who work at the BLM, or the private contractors that break these same laws almost daily.

The FAA law, in this case, is quite clear.  But apparently friends of friends of friends abuse these laws, while doing contrived favors for one another and within their position of responsibility while working for the government; which by the way is considered illegal activity and against policy, and supposedly not condoned by government administrators or the legal community – and yet . . .

What you can do here:  Non-Partisan Federal Investigation into the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Interior  http://signon.org/sign/non-partisan-federal?source=c.url&r_by=4161608

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A Brief Reference to Laws and violations of Roundups:

18 USC § 641 – Public money, property or records; 

10 USC § 909 – Art. 109. Property other than military property of United States—Waste, spoilage, or destruction

TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — § 1361. Government property or contract

Revision to Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 45 and its Associated Clauses (FAR Case 2004-025) still liable for loss, damage, destruction, or theft of Government property that occurs under fixed-price contracts

FAA PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES 91-13 Careless and reckless operation regulation

1666 — Destruction of Government Property—18 U.S.C. § 1361

“OMB circular No. A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control”

FAR clauses at 52.245-1> and 52.245-9, DFARS clauses 252.211-7007, 252.245-7001, 252.245-7002,   252.245-7003, and 252.245-7004

DFARS 242.202, Assignment of Contract Administration

Issue a Contract Deficiency Report (CDR) in Electronic Document Access (EDA) for those contracts lacking appropriate terms and conditions.  See  Contract Receipt and Review Instruction, paragraph 2.5.

Proper Property Loss Reports from Contractors: http://guidebook.dcma.mil/34/ReportsLINK11.pdf

Once again we are confronted by Welfare Ranchers attempting to rid our public lands of wild horses!  This is frustrating, as these same people are adamant in regard to city folks in ghettos and the like, to get off welfare, but Welfare Ranchers do not see themselves as leaches upon our land and using taxpayer money irresponsibly.  Yes, hypocrisy is alive and well with these people, who obviously have contacts, other ranchers appointed to offices within “Our” government, that take special care of their friends; Ironically, at the expense of our nations wild horse herds, America’s horses!  And their attitude is “To hell with everyone else!”  This needs to STOP!

Many American’s, including this American, demands that the government look into, that is a thorough investigation, of the vented and bias interests these welfare ranchers receive from those in government office, or friends in “High Places”.

This is nothing more, nor nothing less, than theft of not only our public lands and taxpayer money, but our Wild Horse Herds as well.  And for What?  1% to 2% of our nations beef?  This is way out of proportion with reality!

Yes, allotments and special interest situations such as Welfare Ranching, and in the previous decades, demonstrate beyond a doubt the unfair and out of proportion circumstances that are now out-dated and suspect of having no further use to the American public, the common folks of this land.  It is nothing more than “Taking Advantage” of an already bad situation, and ripping off in a disrespectful and ugly way, 99% of the common folks in America.

Why are we writing about ranchers and cattle that use Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, America’s Lands, to graze?  Allow this Journalist to get something straight right now: No one, at least within my articles and many others, are attacking the honest ranchers of this nation, or the farmers, as we all have a continued and healthy respect for those men and women who remain a significant part of America’s food chain.

No, this goes further, and strikes the hearts and emotions of those who own horses, admire, or are dedicated American’s that want the Wild Horse Herds to remain part of our natural resource and our heritage.  This heritage is being taken away from American’s in such an abrupt and abusive manner, promoted by nothing more than outright lies, political agendas, profiteering at taxpayer expense, and rounding up and killing “Our” Wild Horses for no purpose other than. . .  Well, no one knows for sure the why, other than there is no valid reason at all.

Welfare Ranchers

On the other hand there is a segment of the ranching community called “Welfare Ranching.”  This is a BLM program that costs taxpayers several millions of dollars per year, with no significant return what so ever.

“The federal grazing program doesn’t pay for itself-not by a long-shot,” said Greta Anderson, Arizona Director for Western Watersheds Project. “It’s effectively a hand-out for a special interest group.”

BLM and Wild Horse Herd Roundups

We then assimilate the BLM’s Wild Horse Herd Program and discover yet another useless and profoundly awkward program, started under false pretense.  Yes, it is simply designed, for a lack of better understanding, to assume profit for the same “Welfare Ranchers” at taxpayer expense, and also in the millions of dollars per year.  Also a critical and outright disgusting note: At the unneeded elimination of America’s Wild Horse Herds, with many “healthy” horses and burros often taken to Slaughter.

BLM’s Misinformed and Erroneous Research

The best example is that of BLM spending in excess of $40 million dollars on “Research” but Scientists specifically told by BLM managers to “Not Consider Grazing Due to Fear of Lawsuits and Data Gaps.”  Since when does legal action trump a truthful assessment of Public Lands?  And the effect of grazing, which in this case are the “Data Gaps”, are of real concern, since the very premise of the Wild Horse Herd Roundups (also costing taxpayers millions of dollars yearly) are predicated on Grasslands Data that supposedly exists, which now we find out doesn’t exist at all, and never has existed!  A situation rather reminiscent of the 15 minute gap in the Nixon Tapes, and which later we find was filled with conclusive evidence of illegal activity.

Going from Bad to Worse – The BLM Decision Process

Worse, after getting caught in this lie, the BLM is essentially saying, “Please don’t say anything about cattle grazing, as it ruins the Public Lands and it may get the “Welfare Ranchers” pissed off, and they may sue us.”  Huh?  Quite a Pandora’s Box the BLM and the Department of the Interior has accomplished here, and obviously difficult to rid themselves of.  But oh, it does get far worse, especially at the expense of the taxpayer.  Arrogance is blissful too but a few, as others pay the price!

“Livestock grazing is permitted on two-thirds of all BLM lands, with 21,000 grazing allotments covering 157 million acres across the West.”  In order to “cover their tracks” the BLM deferred:  “In the face of this reaction, BLM initially deferred a decision but ultimately opted to –

• Remove livestock grazing from all eco – regional assessments, citing insufficient data. As a result, the assessments do not consider massive grazing impacts even though trivial disturbance factors such as rock hounding are included; and
• Limit consideration of grazing-related information only when combined in an undifferentiated lump with other native and introduced ungulates (such as deer, elk, wild horses and feral donkeys).”

“This is one of the oddest things I have ever heard of.  BLM is taking the peculiar position that it can no longer distinguish the landscape imprint of antelope from that of herds of cattle,” remarked PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting BLM has far more data on grazing than it does on other change agents, such as climate change or urban sprawl, that it chose to follow. “Grazing is one of the few ‘change agents’ within the agency’s mandate to manage, suggesting that BLM only wants analysis on what it cannot control.”

Department of the Interior Flawed With Lies

Ironically, “. . . earlier this year, the Interior Department, parent agency for BLM, adopted its first scientific integrity policies prohibiting political interference with, or manipulation of, scientific work.”  A double “Huh”, as this is what writer’s call a “paradox” within fictional dramatic structure.  The problem here, folks, is this is not a fictional story, but true.  This can perhaps be compared to the old Indian man saying in the movie Kalifornia, when observing the actions of the psychotic character Brad Pitt played in the movie, “. . . that boy’s watched too much television.”

Thereby, their definition of “Research” is not only politically driven, and meant not to “Offend” the ever-present and drain to taxpayer money, the “Welfare Ranchers”, but BLM Administrators want to manipulate the research as well, to make sure the data is enriched with self-promotion and profitable to a specific group of people, and certainly not the taxpayers.  They as well as the BLM say, “To hell with the Taxpayers!  To Hell with American’s!”

After all, the BLM Administrators have already spent several billions of taxpayer’s money on specifically the Wild Horse Herd Roundups, both via questionable budgets and theft.  And this must be covered up somehow.  One has got to wonder first, 1. How in the hell did these people get hired within a government agency, and; 2. How in the hell do they keep their jobs when obviously there is so much corruption happening here.

Yet more obvious, the BLM having any type of responsible conduct is non-existent.  These government employees can be compared to the worthless gunslinger hired by the ruthless and dishonest rancher, as in the old westerns of years ago, that attempt to “Steal” the honest folk’s lands and animals for profit.

Extrapolate of the Burns (Reid) Amendment

We can also portray those who originated the Burns (Reid) Amendment, which it has been stated time and again unethically, and those that remain supporting that same amendment as those “pulling the strings” so to speak for all the other questionable and illegal activity – portrayed in old western movies as the dishonest rancher who hired all the gunslingers.  We as Americans need to understand who it is we vote for, and what their potential toward abuse of our laws they can pose within the future, and especially contrary to what the majority of American’s want; after all they are there to represent the people, or American’s as a whole, not specific special interest groups that place money into the politician’s pocket.

Grazing Fees for Welfare Ranchers

BLM’s annual grazing fee since the 1980’s $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM), which was recently increased to $2.35 AUM, the minimum fee allowed under current law.  The fee, which is charged on most Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service grazing allotments, does not come close to recouping the costs of the federal grazing program.  In comparison, the average grazing fee on equivalent, non-irrigated private lands in the West was $15.90 per AUM in 2007, and remains profitable for those ranchers who pay that price.  Assuredly that figure has probably increased in the past 5 years.

“Given the massive budget shortfall our country is facing, we can no longer afford to subsidize a small group of ranchers to pursue their preferred lifestyle on public lands at public expense,” said Mark Salvo, Director of the Sagebrush Sea Campaign for WildEarth Guardians.

[Journalist Note: This Journalist is a Vietnam Veteran, and I also take note, with disgust, that Veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan do not receive appropriate care, and this is due to lack of funds at the VA, and “Welfare Ranching” is simply one of many government programs that consumes taxpayer money uselessly, which can be directed toward assisting those war Veterans needs, rather than giving taxpayer money to a small special interest group who are as well involved in highly questionable activity, and I must say — quite a lot of taxpayer money.]

“Welfare Ranchers” produce and contribute less than 1% (some estimate an inconsistent 3%, but unsure and the less than 1% appears more accurate) of food product to the public.  The reality is the public pays twice for this small amount of product supplied to America’s food chain, in millions of tax dollars spent to support these ranches, and also at the markets that sell at standard and often above market prices.  The margin, or profit base, simply goes into the “Welfare Ranchers” pockets, which receive a profit anyway, but with taxpayer’s assistance receive much more profit.  Then add stolen horse (i.e. stolen government property) storage paid to these same “Welfare Ranchers” until moving the horses to slaughter, which taxpayers also pay for, and subject of a later article, and this special interest group makes a lot of money.

“. . . the GAO reported in 2005 that the BLM would need to charge $7.64 per AUM to recoup grazing program expenses, and the Forest Service would need to charge $12.26/AUM.”  Obviously those figures over the past few years have increased as well.

Legislators and Laws

In 2005 conservation organizations submitted a petition for rule making to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior to update the fee formula to produce fees that cover the costs of the federal grazing program. Under the Administrative Procedures Act, the agencies are supposed to respond within a “reasonable period” of time.  One has got to wonder what our legislative people assume to be a “reasonable period” as it has not been accomplished yet.

“The Obama Administration needs to respond now to the grazing fee petition to comply with the law,” said Jon Marvel, Executive Director of Western Watersheds Project.  The $1.00 increase applied last month simply does not cover the situation within a responsible manner.  As well, why has the Administration not reacted to the illegal schemes ongoing for so many years?

Bad Conduct, The Horse, and BLM

Apparently, taxpayers have succumbed once again, being subordinate, to someone’s political agenda; perhaps the same someone who stopped the Federal Grand Jury investigations and indictment of BLM employees for theft and misuse of government money from the 1990’s onward.

The continued conduct and irresponsible acts by government employees must stop.  As the old westerns use of drama, it is time for the hard-working ranch hand whose past gave him the ability to fight the bad guys, to step forward and cleanup the BLM, and then place America’s Wild Horse Herds back onto America’s lands, and manage them appropriately.

It is simply time to take into consideration the contemptible and incompetence of BLM employees in managing our public lands.  This particular incompetence has been quite costly, in the billions of dollars, to the taxpayers of this nation, and done repeatedly over the years.  Decisions based on bad science, bad research, covering up illegal activities, make-believe posturing of land-management principles, costs of unnecessary wild horse herd roundups and storage, and just plain ignorance of terrestrial science has caused this glut of irresponsibility to explode into unbelievable proportions — yet obvious even to the children of our nation.

Welfare Ranching has got to stop as well.  These ranchers need to pull their own weight on our Public Lands, and pay the correct price to do so.  Gone is the era of putting to pasture 1% of the beef cattle for this nation, to actually sacrifice so much to do so little, and sacrifices by so many.

This being a good excuse to charge only $2.35 per AUM is ridiculous in todays markets.  It is no longer feasible to do so, and the taxpayers are paying the price directly, as food on our tables essentially disappears due to not having the ability to afford the cost of the food.  Then we are told by our government agencies that sacrifices must be made!  And yet, the Welfare Ranchers, with no sacrifice what so ever, sustain a rich and profitable environment, taking from War Veterans, taking from impoverished families, taking from the common folks where a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk now costs in total $7.00 or more!

Make no doubt — Pandora’s Box has been opened.  What an opportunity for a politician to become the man or woman in the white hat.  To actually save America’s Wild Horse Herds, become a hero and obtain a unique value of accomplishment as well as that of being a true American.  This is what makes the common-folks heroes, and then placed into the annals of history for protecting one of America’s true resources, meaning people, and those animals who worked alongside many Americans in the past to make our country stable, The Horse.  It is quite apparent, certain government agencies and Welfare Ranchers consider people and horses secondary to their own needs and their own greed!