Worst Idea Ever?

[Tim Smith]

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/08/14/3471491/republican-sell-public-lands/

I don't think this is a mainstream Republican proposal.

Surely the adults in that party will kill this before it becomes an idea anyone takes seriously.

[Ham]

I certainly want wild public places to stay that way, but I don't trust much coming from Think Progress.

[smallmouthjoe]

Indeed Teddy would be rolling over in his grave if we sold off the remaining vestiges of our public lands to those obsessed with the idea of progress (i.e. some sort of psychological disorder, brain damage). Common sense will prevail and any measures to take property from the public will be laughed at even it comes to the floor.

[Quillback]

I don't know if it will be laughed at - COE sold off the Viney launch and park at Table Rock to the state of MO.

[ozark trout fisher]

Worst idea ever?

Yes, and enough said. There are enough Republicans that actually like to hunt and fish without paying exorbitant access fees that this (hopefully) should die pretty quickly.

Though it never pays to feel too secure from anything like this, especially in the last few years.

[Tim McDougald]

The full text of the resolution adopted by the RNC: http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/RESOLUTION-IN-SUPPORT-OF-WESTERN-STATES-TAKING-BACK-PUBLIC-LANDS.pdf

[Wayne SW/MO]

Sticky subject and the use of Public lands leaves much to be desired. Most of these public lands are managed by the BLM and leftover from the federal governmnets efforts to give them away through homesteading. The real contraversial issue is the change from manageing them for what economic value they can provide to manage them as vast conservation and recreation areas.

Many western states have tremendous amounts public land, Oregon is around 67% and this can cause a real burden on counties trying to make ends meet from a stingy federal stipend. The end of most logging was a serious blow to the economies and lifestyles in many areas of the west.

I would have to know more in order to really have a solid opinion.

[Tim Smith]

Good Lord. The RNC endorsed this??? So this thing is for real??????

Wayne, your post is so muddled it's not hard to see why you're confused. Pubilc land is logged to the ground all over the west...and mined....and grazed etc. etc., etc. This bill has nothing to do with logging vs. not logging.

It has to do with kissing your hunting, fishing, camping, and citizen's rights goodbye forever on the best land this country has to offer it's citizens.

[bfishn]

It's hard to miss the correlation between this;

and this;

This discussion has lasted ~150 years. An interesting summary is at;

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CGEQFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.umaryland.edu%2Fmarshall%2Fcrsreports%2Fcrsdocuments%2FRL34267_12032007.pdf&ei=_VX5U-anN4Hq8QHY9YCQBw&usg=AFQjCNGiICeHAkg667dPP9hS-Lo5-bX0Lg&bvm=bv.73612305,d.b2U

As for me, I think we ought to homestead it.

Howdy neighbor... :-)

[bfishn]

On the other hand, I can't say I've ever heard anyone from the Ozarks (with a MO/AR average of ~6% fed lands) say "Gee, I wish we had more federal land". We have more pressing complaints. Like jet skiers, wakeboarders, trotliners, ATVers, meat-eaters and cows. And anyone that doesn't Like us on Facebook.