Jack, for some time, the government HAS been disposing of unused buildings and “items”, like military bases unused, that we can get rid of more, but it would break the economies in many southern states.
Small tracts of isolated government land have also been disposed of, over many years, I used to work up the sales on many of those parcels. However! Republicans in Congress have proposed more land disposal of the TAXPAYERS land. Now given that many of those lands would sell for up to well, maybe even $1,000 an acre in some areas close to cities, those same lands might return over $1 million dollars an acre, EVERY YEAR if the minerals were leased instead of given away under the mining acts, or leased at WAY below fair market value for oil and gas. Also, if fair market value was charged for grazing, they would bring in 4-5 TIMES more revenue, EVERY YEAR! Timber and other resources have also been going “on the cheap” for over a century, and it’s time to get “businesslike”, and again, charge actual fair market, and make industry (corporations) pay the same as they would for either state, or private resources. Most states for example charge 3-5 times more for grazing, and sell timber and other resources for close to, or the same as, private lands.
Public lands have potential to return far more to the treasury. Oil and gas leasing alone SHOULD be bringing in enough, especially in the Gulf of Mexico, to nearly balance the budget, eliminating the deficit…
But, the “energy lobby” has far more clout than any citizen, and that should change, but Congress isn’t likely to do that, Democrat OR Republican.
it is NOT just the spending, but the refusal to either tax as under Eisenhower, let alone Clinton era formulas, and the irresponsible giving away of TAXPAYER OWNED resources (government) that keeps shooting us in the foot. BTW, subsidizing Tobacco, and other agricultural products is also stupidly continuing. The "panic’ over milk prices merely reflects paying at the counter, for what TAXES have offset, for decades, so isn’t it appropriate the Republicans, especially in agricultural states where the numbers are understood, should be the FIRST to demand “free market” practices, instead of “free stuff” going to farmers, which are overwhelming CORPORATIONS today, not “mom and pop”family" operations. Now if you consider Wal Mart "family’ business, I guess that fits.
Jack, for some time, the government HAS been disposing of unused buildings and “items”, like military bases unused, that we can get rid of more, but it would break the economies in many southern states.
Small tracts of isolated government land have also been disposed of, over many years, I used to work up the sales on many of those parcels. However! Republicans in Congress have proposed more land disposal of the TAXPAYERS land. Now given that many of those lands would sell for up to well, maybe even $1,000 an acre in some areas close to cities, those same lands might return over $1 million dollars an acre, EVERY YEAR if the minerals were leased instead of given away under the mining acts, or leased at WAY below fair market value for oil and gas. Also, if fair market value was charged for grazing, they would bring in 4-5 TIMES more revenue, EVERY YEAR! Timber and other resources have also been going “on the cheap” for over a century, and it’s time to get “businesslike”, and again, charge actual fair market, and make industry (corporations) pay the same as they would for either state, or private resources. Most states for example charge 3-5 times more for grazing, and sell timber and other resources for close to, or the same as, private lands.
Public lands have potential to return far more to the treasury. Oil and gas leasing alone SHOULD be bringing in enough, especially in the Gulf of Mexico, to nearly balance the budget, eliminating the deficit…
But, the “energy lobby” has far more clout than any citizen, and that should change, but Congress isn’t likely to do that, Democrat OR Republican.
it is NOT just the spending, but the refusal to either tax as under Eisenhower, let alone Clinton era formulas, and the irresponsible giving away of TAXPAYER OWNED resources (government) that keeps shooting us in the foot. BTW, subsidizing Tobacco, and other agricultural products is also stupidly continuing. The "panic’ over milk prices merely reflects paying at the counter, for what TAXES have offset, for decades, so isn’t it appropriate the Republicans, especially in agricultural states where the numbers are understood, should be the FIRST to demand “free market” practices, instead of “free stuff” going to farmers, which are overwhelming CORPORATIONS today, not “mom and pop”family" operations. Now if you consider Wal Mart "family’ business, I guess that fits.