A Land poll

[Nativedude]

Should the gov't. be able to tell you what you can or cannot do with your land?

If we are to claim ownership, shouldn't we be able to claim "sole" ownership without the interference of the gov't.?

After all, you are paying or have paid for it. It is your right?!

This pertains to "your" land. That which lays within your property lines/boundaries.

This thread and poll refers to "your land" as a private land owner. Not about corporations or companies.

[Elkchsr]

This should have had a little more definition to it (but it's your thread.... )

It would have included some thing 'as long as you don't adversely physically affect others'

But it's a good point, that is for sure...

[beerrunner13]

Without getting political, I think the goverment has to much say in our lives.As elkchser said if you are not causeing harm, why is there a reson for goverment involvment?

[RBB]

Yah, question is too basic.

A big city firm bought some land locally and began storing hazardous waste on it. You better believe I am glad the gov't had some say so over what they did on their land.

[Elkchsr]

I've seen both sides of the fence

The one I've seen abused the worse is "Tree Policies" the government mandates on it's local citizens (hiding behind the guise of saving children and the environment)

In some areas, you have to get a certified arborist to come in and give an over all opinion of the health of a tree (including dead)

= added cost

Then you have to take your information to the city council, they load in their cars at the end of the meeting and drive around looking at the trees (getting a "feeling" if they want to have the tree removed)

= (added cost due to lost work)

If they grace you with the privilege of letting you remove the tree you pay taxes on, then you have to have a registered, certified (thru the town counsel of course at another cost) tree service come out and remove said tree

= Added cost of removal

Oh!!!

It doesn't end there

Don't matter if you only have a postage stamp yard, you have to replace the tree with another one, and your choice is limited to that which the council in unison has agreed upon

= Added cost of new tree which eventually will be another problem

These little bureaucrats create havoc to every one else, just so they can feel good about doing nothing while in office

Need I say more?

Not saying I'm a little soured at the turn of events I found myself in as the owner of a local tree service now being shook down by said town councils (there were quite a few at the time who bought into it) for the privilege of working inside of their particular city limits...

[Smok]

Forget the land . Here in Calif. the Government is trying to put remote control meters on our home thermostat so THEY can regulate the temperature in our homes .... not just meter it but control it This is no joke they are realy tying to do this

[Sarge47]

The question isn't, in my humble opinion, formatted correctly. I probably would have worded it like this: "Do you believe that the Government has too much control over the land bought in the private sector by American Citizens. Of course it does. Not only that but Wal-Mart was recently reported as to using "Eminent Domain" to take away Private land to build one of their stores. Maybe the question should be does the Govt. Have too much power?

[Nativedude]

The question isn't, in my humble opinion, formatted correctly. I probably would have worded it like this: "Do you believe that the Government has too much control over the land bought in the private sector by American Citizens. Of course it does. Not only that but Wal-Mart was recently reported as to using "Eminent Domain" to take away Private land to build one of their stores. Maybe the question should be does the Govt. Have too much power?

That is because of the Supreme Court's ruling last year changing the 5th Amendment, giving the right to companies, like Wal-Mart, to do that if they can show cause that they can make profit by owning that land. It's a lot of BS, if you ask me!!

The Constitution is just up for grabs by bureaucrats in D.C. Slowly, but oh-so-assuredly our rights are being taken away -- little-by-little -- right out from under our noses!

[Rick]

Sorry, Native Dude. The question is black and white but the subject isn't. RBB's was an excellent example, I think. And just using the term "government" doesn't define the context. There are a lot of agencies; federal, state and local. Some of which have nothing to do with land ownership or the activity that occurs on it. I understand you intent but I don't think the question accurately captures it.

[ryaninmichigan]

As long as you are taxed on it you never truly own it.

[nell67]

As long as you are taxed on it you never truly own it.

ABSOLUTELY!

[Rick]

Then who owns my underwear? I paid sales tax on it?

[Rick]

Purely rhetorical. I don't really want to know. But it would be interesting to know, of those who think the government has too much control, who does not vote or otherwise participate in the legislative process. And I'm not speaking of those that voted in the poll. Just in general.

[nell67]

I do vote,and still compain

[Rick]

That's legal. So do I.

[Elkchsr]

The question is very valid

How much do we want government in our lives as free thinking Americans

I've been to many places in the world over the years and have found most people coming out of Socialist style governments don't seem to have much of a problem with big brother intrusions into it

It's a sad state of affairs when people are willing to sacrifice "FREEDOM" for safety

It's also very dangerous to have such an attitude unless you actually belong to a governmental agency that will protect you from all the intrusion

[Rick]

This is the point at which I have difficulty. I don't know who "the government is". We are the government. Folks need to define the "who" and why they have difficulty with them. (not pointed at you Elkchsr). I'll bet most can't. That goes back to my "witch" statement above. Native Dude's #8 post was very good. It went straight to the root of the problem as he saw it. That's something we can debate, cuss and discuss. Just saying the government really doesn't mean anything. That could include the local school board up the the NSC or CIA.

[Elkchsr]

To be more defining in whom "The Government" is

* Those who are collecting checks from tax payers to do the work of the tax payer and after getting into these positions of trust and power, then taking that next step and following their own agenda

Then implement theories they have invented or some ideal a misguided professor in their younger years put into their heads

The other ones start with the paragraph marked * and implement ideals dictated strictly on the basis of emotion with out being dictated by common sense or reason

[Rick]

It's still a broad net for a little fish and I fear we're treading dangerously close to politics so I'll walk lightly. If someone were to say to me, "I disagree with the President's decision to monitor cell phone conversations without a court order." I'm cool with that. Whether I agree or not isn't material. The person clearly defined the who and what it was they had discontent with. "I don't think county government should have the right to tax my property and then tell me I need to acquire a building permit to build a garage." Great! Now we're heading in the right direction. See my point?

Government, In my lowly, humble opinion, can only do 1. What we tell it to do or 2. What we allow it to do. Those of us that remember the sixties and seventies know what people can do when they collectively have had enough of injustice. We saw the fall of a president because of a free press and a strong public opinion. Places like Kent State, Selma, or the Watergate office building still hold a meaning for us.

By the way, is a Land Pole anything like a Land Shark (SNL for those that don't know what that is).

[RBB]

Definitely getting political, and moderators please remove this if it is too much so - but...

the Liberals want to tax me more so they can turn this country into a socialist welfare state, and the Conservatives think businesses should be able to take over my land if they can show cause it will be a "benefit" for the community at large, and if I vote independent, the guy will never get in anyway and I've wasted my vote.

Guess I'll vote the anarchist ticket next election.