Expert’s take: Land seizure and the Constitution

By: Teresa Mull 4/24/2014

A number of complexities surround the government vs. Cliven Bundy standoff case in Nevada. Some say the feds acted legally, others that they are infringing upon private property and Constitutional rights. Either way, the situation stimulated a national discussion: What are the limits of the federal government and its agencies?

Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Economic Prosperity at the Goldwater Institute, sets us straight:

In reference to the Bundy case and the new report that the Bureau of Land Management is looking to seize about 90,000 acres of land to be made public in Texas, what exactly is the purpose of the BLM, and what are its limits? How much power does the BLM have, and what can they do with it?......To Read More.....

My Take - The author goes on to state the only solution - and one I have stated over and over again - is for the federal government to immediately give up management to this land and sell it, either by the states or the federal government. The author notes that this was the procedure from 1790 until about 1910 when modern Progressives started infesting government, and if Progressive policies had been in effect from 1790 till now the federal government would own over half of the United States.

The founding fathers understood two things. If property isn't owned it isn't productive, and non productive property impacts the wealth of all citizens, rich and poor alike. And they understood that not only should property be owned privately, the right to own that property - and do with as one pleases - is foundational to the continued freedom and liberty outlined in the Constitution. Otherwise we’re the Soviet Union where the government owns all the land, and we know how economically effective that is.  We also know how much freedom and liberty that has allowed. 

Central planning is now and has always been a disaster.  This brings me back to “The Great Solution”.  Repeal the 16th and 17th amendments.  After that all else will fall into place.   It won't be perfection, but expecting perfection in anything people are running is a form of insanity, and that's why the leftists all fail.