Bush plan to sell national forests is morally irresponsible

[montana500]

www.wilderness-sportsman.com (news section Feb 14)

"The largest tracts of land identified are in California, with 85,465 acres targeted for sale. In North Carolina, 9,828 acres may be for sale, with much of that acreage in Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. It’s not just an acre here and an acre there. There are nearly a dozen tracts listed in the Nantahala National Forest of 100 acres or more, and four in Pisgah National Forest of more than 100 acres. The grand prize appears to be a 570-acre parcel in Madison County.

Public lands are used by the public — for timber, for hiking, hunting and fishing, as a place animals and humans can find refuge from the crush of the modern world. Once sold, they’re sold, gone forever from such uses by the general public.

The idea of selling off land to help fund the act has been described in some corners as selling your house to pay off your credit cards, and that’s about right. It’s one-time money to fund an ongoing program, a method that can’t be repeated forever."

[Coexist]

1. Thom Hartmann had a Rand-ite on yesterday

discussing how this was a great idea - because private companies can administer them for less, and the people should be able to sell of this land if they want.

Ugh. That is such a lie - and I was waiting for Hartmann to go into how in recent years, things that have been privatized cost MORE to administer because of bonus plans and such- less $ per dollar goes into the actual PROJECT. But he didn't. Maybe he was just so stunned that people actually think like that.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. But that's the point. It isn't the money so much as it is the principle.

This regime does not believe in the public having ownership and access to anything. The principle is that if you can buy it, then you can own it. Therefore, having public land is frustrating the purpose of privatization and allowing free market access to an unreasonable restraint and holding in trust of property. (Look, it's their philosophy, not mine)

In their perfect world, if you want a public park, a public beach, a public hiking trail, etc., then work hard, save some money, and go buy a mountain or something. They believe that the federal government has no business in owning real property and the * regime wants to dispose of these assets ASAP before another administration comes in and ruins it. (Assuming * isn't planning on being installed for life)

[sasha031]

3. will there be a vote on this

can the monster just get away with this!

[montana500]

4. It's in the budget bill

The outrage is huge so hopefully it gets taken out.

[sasha031]

5. we all have to call our congress, flood them with mail and phone calls

[aquaman]

6. But hey,

Selling off the land to greedy developers is the "christian" thing to do so poor kids can go to school. I don't understand the outrage on this. :sarcasm: