I bet with more data they would be underwhelmed. Compare the Federal Lands map[0] with a land-cover map[1].
See how much of that BLM managed property is semi-desert? And how much is actually Forest Service land? The first map also includes state lands, which is more apparent in the East, and Alaska. I for one am proud of our reserving of lands for the greater public. It's all of our lands, not just a few greedy landowners.
[0]https://prd-wret.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium...
(above found here: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/pad-us-land-management-map)
[1]https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/pad-us-land-management-map
I advise Americans to auction empty federal land holdings. having so much of land in state's property is wrong, and very uncapitalist.
Re:How America Uses Its Land
by ianleeclark on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @11:46AM
(#17663566)
Sell your kidneys, too. /s
What useful things does the US federal government do with all that land?
Prevent ecological destruction.
Can you formulate this in a less meaning-amorphous phrase. "Prevent ecological destruction" in this context can mean every thing imaginable.
Yes, I can. But I think it's clear enough already, especially in contrast to the supremely vague assertion about economic ethics.
It is not clear to me.
Re:How America Uses Its Land
by avoutthere on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @07:29AM
(#17661508)
I've never understood how the federal government holding all of this land has held up in court. What is the constitutional justification for this?
Re:How America Uses Its Land
by dodgemustang on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @07:44AM
(#17661582)
Because the land is owned by the U.S. Federal government after making deals with European countries, Native Americans, and also taking it from Native Americans by force.
No one has yet transfered the property rights to the land to anyone else.
The Property Clause.
https://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/4/essays/1...
Re:How America Uses Its Land
by gamblor956 on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @02:02PM
(#17665117)
Governments can own property too...in capitalist economy government is just one of many market participants.
[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/federal...