Federal Land

It is time for the U.S. government to keep their noses out of everything. The U.S. government is planning to take away thousands of acres in the state of Arizona. The government would like to turn this land into a national monument. Doesn’t this country have enough national monuments? This action would prevent any mining or further development on the land.

The money needed to run these public facilities would come from the taxpayers. So not only will the government exercise more control, but it will also charge more money to its citizens for a monument it does not need. In addition to this, the state governments count on the taxes of these properties. As a result, the states will require more help from the federal government. And from where does this help come? From the taxpayers, of course.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 allows only the president of the United States or an act of Congress to create a national monument. This is far too much power and prevents the citizens of this country from holding either group accountable for these decisions. Aren’t they supposed to carefully consider the opinions of the people who elected them? I don’t remember anyone asking me.

The federal government already controls 25 percent of the land in the United States. Isn’t that enough? It just doesn’t seem right that an individual or a small group should have the right to determine the fate of millions of acres of land.