On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:48:36 +0000, OlBlueEyes wrote:


Even if one turns a blind eye to the Constitutional requirement that the
federal government only purchase land for "forts and other needful
buildings", the superfluous properties needed to erase the debt can be
assembled without touching those you name.

Now, that is one flawed reading of the Constitution. That section is
about granting legislative control, not about ownership.

"To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such
District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular
States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government
of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places
purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same
shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and
other needful Buildings"

I'd also point out that *all* land west of the 13 original states was at
one time federally owned. If it wasn't for that fact, there would have
been no land to go west to, and least not in the United States.

By your reading, the Louisiana Purchase was illegal, and should be given
back to the French.

(1) environmentally speaking, privately held forest lands fare far better
than government-owned ones, since private entities have an interest in
reforestation of lands they own, whereas ones leased by government are far
more likely to be clearcut.

There's a real easy solution to that problem. Stop making sweetheart
deals with loggers and ranchers. It's called pork, and is just another
form of corporate welfare.


After all, where would you rather visit a restroom in New York - the
Waldorf or the subway?

I'd rather visit the Statue of Liberty.