Public Land Up For Grabs?

DizzyDigger

Gold Member
Dec 9, 2012
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Concrete, WA
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Nokta FoRs Gold, a Gold Cube, 2 Keene Sluices and Lord only knows how many pans....not to mention a load of other gear my wife still doesn't know about!
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Just read an article posted in the New York Times regarding
the future of our public lands. Apparently they (the Gov) are
considering selling off public lands...

"Last week, the United States Senate voted 51 to 49 to support an amendment
to a nonbinding budget resolution to sell or give away all federal lands other than
the national parks and monuments."


Rest of the article is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/opinion/our-land-up-for-grabs.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

If this actually happens, we are going to be no more than a relic
of the past era.
 

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Whose agenda is this? The article seems to point at republicans but I doubt it's that simple...
 

Some of my libertarian friends have been advocating the privatization of public lands for about ten years. Of course, their idea is to shrink government and give private enterprise a shot at earning a living off the land. It's kind of a catch 22. The left wing wants to leave no track, and the right wing now wants to get rid of it altogether? Somewhere in the middle lies "un"common sense, or a balanced approach to appropriate use. The socialists don't want us to make any money off "their" land, while the environmentalists want to totally regulate everything into a Utopian paradise. I realize I'm oversimplifying here, but it's all been said before by someone.
 

Sometimes I feel very alone in the middle....but I think I need to stay focused on treasure hunting topics here ;)
 

You're not alone there Kevin. We're all stuck here together. Most of us aren't in this for the money. I for one, do it as a form of liberty. I honestly didn't read the story but it sounds like left or right Liberty is not on the agenda.
 

This is f'd up not happy at all...it's not even a partisan issue. The only people who would want this are the elites and largest of corporations. Nice they slipped this through.
 

Ya know...... I'm not even going to get into this conversation because I would get booted for sure.... Lets just say I am a very conservative person and I see this country no longer resembles the great land it used to be.
Our moral and ethical compass is busted all to hell........ I'm done.
 

I don't know, I would be A OK with them "giving" me a patent on my public land claims.
 

I'm surprised I haven't heard anything more about this in the newspaper or from my friends who are active in prospecting, fishing, and/or hunting. In my opinion, the federal government has proven time and time again that they are incapable of managing our public lands in a way that is politically unbiased, cost efficient for the taxpayers, and is of bilateral support for the development of natural resources as well as promoting recreational activities. Last I knew, the only land that the United States Constitution gives the federal government ownership of are its territories and enclaves. I think most of the states would actually be better off managing the public lands themselves; keyword: most. I certainly think the outcome of public lands transferred to the states would depend greatly on politics, it probably wouldn't be nearly as favorable (at least initially) in a state like California where mining is constantly being attacked versus a state like Montana where things are a little more laid back (or so I've heard). Either way and regardless of whether a land transfer happens or not, I do think most people can agree that the way our public lands have been managed in recent years (or decades) is sub-par and leaves much to be desired.
 

I'm surprised I haven't heard anything more about this in the newspaper or from my friends who are active in prospecting, fishing, and/or hunting. In my opinion, the federal government has proven time and time again that they are incapable of managing our public lands in a way that is politically unbiased, cost efficient for the taxpayers, and is of bilateral support for the development of natural resources as well as promoting recreational activities. Last I knew, the only land that the United States Constitution gives the federal government ownership of are its territories and enclaves. I think most of the states would actually be better off managing the public lands themselves; keyword: most. I certainly think the outcome of public lands transferred to the states would depend greatly on politics, it probably wouldn't be nearly as favorable (at least initially) in a state like California where mining is constantly being attacked versus a state like Montana where things are a little more laid back (or so I've heard). Either way and regardless of whether a land transfer happens or not, I do think most people can agree that the way our public lands have been managed in recent years (or decades) is sub-par and leaves much to be desired.

Yes the fed's are incapable of managing our land efficiently as possible and state management could be beneficial, however, being in a state like California I believe our state government, and others in similar situations, would be all to eager to start selling off land to the highest bidder. Would you be okay with your state auctioning off their public lands to the highest bidder, simply because it might be managed better?

I think this is a slippery slope of a bill, it might start with somewhat good intentions, but it sets us up for the possible loss of our public lands. Letting one of the best things about this country fade out would be a tragedy of the greatest proportions.

There are already so many sections of BLM and federal lands completely inaccessible due to private land owners, you are well aware of this I am sure living in South Dakota, you have some beautiful country in both the Badlands and the Black Hills (I grew up in North Eastern Wyoming and know this country well.)

This is not something that should have even been breached without the voice of the people.
 

Ya know...... I'm not even going to get into this conversation because I would get booted for sure.... Lets just say I am a very conservative person and I see this country no longer resembles the great land it used to be.
Our moral and ethical compass is busted all to hell........ I'm done.

I'm with you John.
 

No offense to you Woody but there is nothing wrong with the voice of the people and the effect it can have. That beautiful piece of literature still means now what it did when they wrote it. The problem is the people just aren't listening and don't know or have a care to use it. We really are enthralled, distracted, and hypnotized by bright shiny objects. We are a society who needs energy drinks to do nothing!
 

DD thanks for posting this link! Im copying it and going to send it to my local news paper. if our gubermint is so stressed out for cash and needing to sell off OUR public lands...............WHY are they still grabbing more land as we speak? something don't measure up!this is something VERY common with out socalled "representatives":BangHead:
 

I had a DR. appointment yesterday and while waiting in his office I brought my current issue of ICMJ and the printed out copy of the story you linked. and while I was reading it the DR. finnaly came into the room and noted that my blood pressure was up ! he redid it latter in the exam and it dropped lower but still a little high. he commented about why my blood pressure was higher. I told him it was simply because of this article I was reading. he was curious and asked to see it. He couldn't believe what he read! I said most Americans don't even hear of the c#$p our socalled "representaives" pull on the American people. he said he wanted to copy this letter, I said keep it! ill copy another.it still makes my blood boil to think that our "so called Representatives" pull this c%#p over on us and expected to get voted into or keep their jobs. I plan to make a bunch of copys and drop them off wherever I go! I.E. barber shop / grocery store bulliten board ETC. PLUS sending copys to all of my socalled "representatives" and ask them if they feel comfortable with this land grab of our (government) gubermint? But this program is to expire on Sept. 30 this year unless Congress keeps it alive! meanwhile that female damocrap from California wants more land taken and the rep. socalled "representatives" are fighting it and she said if Congress don't pass it she will go around Congree and get obama to use exectutive order to get it done! where does "For the people , by the people , and from the people", fit into this equation? it seems again like our Civil Rights are NOT recognized by our socalled "representatives" anymore!
 

Every so often the BLM sells off parcels of mining claims that have been abandoned by the former claimaints.This has been the case for quite awhile.
That's not what this is about
 

Public Land doesn't mean Public Land anyway.
Public Land means Government owned land that you need to follow their's
and the EnviroMental Psychos rules on .



Let me know when they start Selling National Parks.

I want Gettysburg Battlefield :thumbsup:

My bid $400.00 & 10% of everything I Dig & sell
 

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public land are socialism , and if the government did not put them aside for all, you would have nowhere you can go. government ownership of anything is socialism, and the idea of free market capitalism is to private ownership of everything, they want to privitize everything and for profit. I am not rich so I think government have done a good job of saving a place for me to go for different activities, as they are basically a Non profit service and NOT a for profit business
 

right Kayakpat, i/us/somebody get 50% of everthing you dig up kinda like the current admin
In a socialist economy, workers contribute to society based on their ability and receive according to their needs
38 million people in the state of crazyfornia almost half, receive gov aid
 

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