Great piece. Govt. owned land also become political patronage for dems as well. Some of that land, especially out west, is loaded with everything from water rights to timber, every mineral from uranium to gold, silver you name it. We are rich with minerals in some areas. Prime patronage vehicles for extorting campaign contributions.
Exactly, I have heard much of the Uranium 1 material is in Oregon and some extremely strategic minerals have been blocked from mining by the BLM. Much of it by where the standoff was. It is one of the most corrupt systems in the country.