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?
It is not simply of fairness but what comprises social justice. When this sense of justice is lost then the ethics of the situation become forgotten. The question should ask what is just from a morals viewpoint. Of course the correct answer isD but in order to properly explain it is necessary to claim that competition between the Fed and the private land owners would otherwise be limited which is where the moral injustice begins.
Posted by: David Chester | March 13, 2012 at 12:45 PM