Under the "Tyrant Lincoln" (at least according to the Lost Causers who infect this site like freak'n Bed Bugs with their non historical nonsense) the Federal government ceded million of acres owned through both the Homestead Act (which the Slave Power opposed for 20+ years) and then the Land Grant College Act, which ended up with more millions of more acres sold off and the proceeds used to establish most of the schools that are now called 'Something or Another State University.'
Without the sale of Federal Lands, those schools would have never been created.
The Feds still own way too much land, and perhaps it is time to sell the rest off to pay off this horrendous debt we have. My only concern is the the Chinese might be the only people able to afford it. ;~((
I don't know how much Federal land is "too much", but if you look at the map in post #126 above, you'll quickly notice that nearly all of it is west of the Rocky Mountains, in lands rather thinly populated.
Somewhere I remember hearing that Nevada is 90% owned by the Federal Government, including the radioactive sections, Area 51, etc...
Including oil and minerals underground, doubtless some of this land is quite valuable, but above ground mountains, desert and Alaskan tundra are likely best suited for current employment as preserves for nature and aliens (Area 51), etc... ;-)
And the whole idea of selling off Federal lands (to the Chinese!), just to pay off the National Debt strikes me as so stupid, somebody needs to Gibbs slap these b*st*rds and shake them strongly: what the h*ll do they think they are doing?
Get their finances in order or resign and go home.