Bolivia's giving back of land. This has to be good

[madokie]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/14738954.htm

LA PAZ, Bolivia - Leftist President Evo Morales launched a sweeping land reform plan on Saturday by handing over roughly 9,600 square miles of state-owned land to poor Indians.

Morales marked the start of his ``agrarian revolution'' just weeks after nationalizing Bolivia's natural-gas industry, giving foreign-owned energy companies six months to negotiate new contracts or leave.

Thousands of Indians gathered in the eastern city of Santa Cruz to receive land titles, chanting ``Evo!'' and waving Bolivian and rainbow whipala flags, which represent 500 years of Indian struggle.

``We want to change Bolivia together,'' Morales told the crowd. ``Getting back the land means we're getting back all the natural resources, we're nationalizing all the natural resources.''

[Robb]

1. I've said before I'm torn on this

It sounds good and all, but once a nation divests itself of state-owned public land, it's gone forever. Regardless of who's in power.

[cantstandbush]

2. Giving it "back" is so much different.

Of course, true capatilists have to be suspicious of anything done by socialist leaders of the left. Got make sure there is no opportunity to wage war on these "do-gooders."

[Robb]

3. No, actually, I'm suspicious of the future

Fifty years, 100 years from now, maybe the government there takes a turn. The people who got the land "back" have an opportunity to sell it to foreign investors. And it's gone, the most significant bargaining chip a government can have. :shrug:

Public land in this country is meted out with an awful lot of deliberation. Kinda. :)