A Colorado paper recently moaned about the hundreds of millions of dead trees, which were, and still are being killed by beetles. According to the paper, the hundreds of millions of dead trees in National Forest and BLM lands in western states, are ‘public’ or ‘owned’ by the federal government. “Publicly owned,” would have to include restrooms, lands, and schools, to mention a few. Public schools and public rest rooms are a disaster of course, as are public lands, but there is no need to elaborate, because these public entities are obviously ill kept and operated poorly. Millions of acres of ‘public lands’ are incinerated each year by forest fires, besides those killed by beetles, which dead trees burn fiercely. Fires and beetles are easily controlled by thinning forests, which is rarely done by government.
Ever try to sell a car without having a title to it? Ever try selling a home or property without having a deed to it? Impossible of course, because there has to be proof of ownership in order to sell or change ownership. Article 1, Section 8, clause 17 of the Constitution, says that government may own land and, “exercise authority of all places PURCHSED by the consent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, stock yards, and other needful buildings.” Get the point? The ONLY lands authorized by the Constitution to be owned by the federal government, are lands that have been PURCHASED from the individual states, and then only for the use of forts, stock yards, etc.
It would be interesting to see the deeds given to Uncle Sam by 86.2% of Nevada, 61% of Alaska, 52% of Oregon, 49.6% of California, 67% of Utah, 64% of Idaho, 49% of Wyoming, and 41% of Arizona, plus large parts of Colorado and other western states. There are no deeds given to the federal government by states in which the government claims ownership of billions of acres of poorly tended lands. There are hundreds of millions of live, healthy trees on lands privately owned by tree farms, lumber companies, resorts, railroads, ranches and farms, all owned for profit, and all paying property taxes to states on their holdings, for which they have deeds proving ownership. Privately held lands and properties, are well cared for by their owners, as they are used for profit or residences. Private lands which are wooded, are regularly thinned and cared for just like our yards and farms. The above mentioned states were formed as a result of a treaty with Mexico, signed in 1848, and commonly called the “Treaty of Hidalgo.” The treaty, speaking of the transferred lands, says they, “Shall be formed into free, sovereign, and independent states, and incorporated into the Union of the United States as soon as possible.” The original states had no public lands. Illegally and unconstitutionally held lands should be sold to private owners, and the proceeds used to pay off the national debt. States then could collect property taxes on privately held lands, as opposed to the pitiful monies paid to states by the federal government, now called “PILT” or ‘payment in lieu of taxes,’ which cheat the state treasuries every year. I guess I am an extremist with my views. Sorry about that! (Parts of this column came from chapter 8 of “I Hold These Truths). I have a client who wants to sell several of her PCGS graded $20 gold pieces for the current price of Gold Eagles. Call Don Stott.
My books, “Consequences,” or “I Hold These Truths,” can be had by sending a check for $9.95 for each, to Don Stott, 222 S. 5th St, Montrose CO. 81401. Information at 1-888-786-8822. E-mail – don@coloradogold.com