LVTFan's Blog

The Land Questions: #38: Mining

38. Mining companies which mine on public lands pay far less to the Federal government than they pay on privately held lands. 

A.  That's fair, because the private landholders are better negotiators

B. That's fair, because the 1872 Mining Act set the price, and it wouldn't be fair to change the business environment after setting the rules.

C. That's fair.  Corporations need subsidies to create jobs.

D. That's unfair, and the federal government should be getting just as much from the miners as the private landholders are getting

E. That's unfair, and not only should the federal government be getting more from the mining companies, but the federal government should be collecting a significant portion of the royalties now privatized by private and corporate landholders, since we're all equally entitled to nature's bounty.  This would permit us to reduce other taxes on wages and production, and perhaps lead to a citizen's dividend, similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund

F. That's unfair, because the 1872 Mining Act was based on old prices and old mining technology.

G. Your reactions?

 

The Land Questions: #37

37.  Our ancestors bought or stole the land which the ancestors of some of those now identified as "Native Americans" relied on.  How should we and our children pay back them and their children?

A. By giving them the privilege of selling cigarettes without taxes, forgoing revenue that could help meet the health costs associated with smoking, both for smokers and for those who live with them.

B. By giving them the privilege of running casinos, even if a percentage of that revenue must be contributed to the state, and even if gambling is creates tremendous problems for some individuals in society, beyond those who actually gamble.

C. By collecting from everyone who owns land and natural resources the annual economic value, and giving everyone a per-capita share of those resources, every year, forever.  (Similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund)

D.  By collecting from everyone who owns land and natural resources the annual economic value, and giving everyone a per-capita share of those resources, every year, forever, and providing a double share to those who are starting from a disadvantaged position for some fixed number of years

E. By collecting from everyone who owns land and natural resources the annual economic value, paying the costs of government and common spending from that source, producing equal opportunity for all.

F. Your suggestions?

 

The Land Questions: #36 -- the land in the path of progress (2)

36.  He worked hard.  He played by the rules. He bought up land before the interstate highway was announced, and his widow and orphans now have a very valuable land portfolio, for which others will pay a high purchase price or high -- and rising -- lease prices, for generations.  Is it right to change our tax code to tax -- heavily -- year in and year out, the economic value of that land?

The Land Questions: #9 -- Federal Lands, Natural Resources

9.  The corporations which pump oil from beneath federal lands are paying low royalties into the federal treasury, despite the fact that the price of oil has risen significantly since their royalties were set.  The royalties should be raised.  To whom should the revenue go?

A. The Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the LDS Church, the orthodox, conservative, and reform bodies of Judaism, the American Islamic governing entity, etc., in proportion to their proven membership.  Further provision should be made to insure that those who belong to no religious group can name an entity which should control their share.

B. Keep giving it to the corporations, but increase their corporate income taxes.  Or reduce their loopholes.

C. Use the revenue to fund education, providing all children the same amount of funding, to be used at any school their parents choose.

D. Use the revenue to fund education, providing all children some funding, but more for those in poverty or handicapped, autistic, special needs, gifted.

E. Create a national version of the Alaska Permanent Fund, to provide, over the decades, an income to every American.

F. Use the revenues to reduce other taxes which burden the economy, and most particularly those which burden the poor most heavily.

G. Give the revenues to the people of the states where the oil is pumped. They're more entitled than the rest of us.

H. Use oil royalties to fund wars overseas, particularly those which relate to oil.

I. Use oil revenues to finance health care, or fund Social Security.

J. Your suggestions?