In Europe, iconic properties (Sherwood Forest) go on sale (blaming the "rich" for government's debt)

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 25, 2011 | Henry Chu

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Reporting from Mansfield, England — Here in the heart of Sherwood Forest, a real-life Robin Hood tale is unfolding, only in reverse.

If the British government gets its way, large chunks of these woods where the Merry Men reputedly squared off against the sheriff of Nottingham may soon be up for sale. Officials want the money to help plug a gaping hole in the public purse.

To outraged locals, it's a case of taking a common good from ordinary, hardworking taxpayers and giving it to rich developers and greedy corporations. Robin Hood, if he ever existed, would be terribly cross.

"The woodland belongs to the people," said Peter Zakarian-Ball, 37, who's been coming to Sherwood Forest for a bit of the great outdoors since he was a boy. "It shouldn't be sold from under them."

But these are tough times for the state, and not just here in Britain. Across Europe, countries faced with huge budget deficits are trying to unload government-owned property in an attempt to balance their books, including some iconic buildings....

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Robin Hood didn't steal from "rich developers and greedy corporations."

Robin Hood understood that government taxation was the bane of the common people.

We have out of control spending by government and to a writer at the Los Angeles Times, it is the fault of rich developers that properties are up for sale ("GIVING" the common good to rich developers and greedy corporations) in order to pay off government debt.

I guess that translates to: When California goes belly up, blame the rich (that would be you) and "steal" back from them.

Is no one responsible for their debt? Are there no consequences for irresponsible, "don't worry about tomorrow," out of control spending?

I wonder how much China will be "investing" in the U.S.

[JoeProBono]

Chinese agree to buy city-owned Docks property on river for $2.15 million

The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
Tuesday, January 25, 2011

[blueplum]

Sherwood Forest can be credited with driving a centuries’ old thirst throughout the world for further knowledge and understanding of English history and people.

It is a National Heritage Site that should be cherished and preserved and sale of it should be blocked by the highest courts in the land and the Queen, if need be.

[4rcane]

Exactly. Robin Hood was stealing from the tax collectors and corrupt nobleman (today’s bureaucrats and politicians)

[4rcane]

I’ve always understood the story of Robin Hood of stealing from bad folks, not good folks. Being rich, don’t make you bad, not when you earned it. Its stealing from ppl who didn’t earn the ill gotten gain that makes Robin Hood a hero.

[agere_contra]

I hear you - but nevertheless we in the UK have contracted debts. Selling assets is normal, honorable practice when it comes to clearing debts. This is the family silver: its loss is just one more piece of Brown's dismal legacy.

In the same way: the US may will have to sell Federal land and other Federal assets. It's not fun, but its what you do when you owe money.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

Or

you cut fed spending in half

and use the tax surplus to reduce the national debt to zero

and keep the crown jewels and Sherwood Forest

for the benefit of future generations.

[Ulysse]

ping

[agere_contra]

Massive deregulation, tax-cuts and reductions in spending could indeed save all your assets.

But we both know it’s simply not going to happen with this administration. Instead the dollar is going to devalue to 20% of its current buying power.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[HiTech RedNeck]

Will the Sheriff of Nottingham sell land to Robin Hood?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

He will sell to those who can pay for it.

[sphinx]

Somehow I doubt that selling off a national park will change the budget dynamics. It will probably raise enough to fund about 15 minutes worth of spending. Asset sales are an expedient to postpone the day of reckoning; they will be used to string the spenders along a bit longer, but the problem doesn’t go away.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

And when the “sheriff” wants it back, he’ll just confiscate it.

[riri]

What rich? There are not many rich people in Europe. And rich is relative. To live like the average middle class American you must be rich in Europe.

[redgolum]

Kind of like auctioning off Yellowstone or Gettysburg.

[redgolum]

Kind of like auctioning off Yellowstone or Gettysburg.

[denydenydeny]

To outraged locals, it's a case of taking a common good from ordinary, hardworking taxpayers and giving it to rich developers and greedy corporations. Robin Hood, if he ever existed, would be terribly cross.

I love that leftists suddenly find a "common good" in land that their radical environmentalist arm is constantly trying to take away from actual "ordinary hardworking taxpayers" in the form of banning campfires, banning mouuntain bikes, 'roadless initiatives," banning hunting and fishing, etc.

[onedoug]

¨Welcome to Sherwood, my Lady.¨

[MilicaBee]

Eerily like the sale of Bragdon Wood in C.S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength.