I realize foreign cattle have to pay the check-off as well.   I'm all for leaving them out of the whole deal.

The LMA can do whatever they feel they need to do.  People will use whatever sales medium they feel gives them the best buck.   If sale barns want business, they might need to do things a bit different than they did in 1956 .  

If folks want the checkoff, they may need to do things a bit different as well.  I think they need to ask themselves if the issues that have made opponents of the checkoff is worth hanging on to at the risk of losing everything.  Maybe a concession or two would settle things down a bit?