A Utah student took it upon himself to "save" as much as Utah as he could from oil and gas development. Not by letters. Not by signs and demonstrations. Not with lawyers and lawsuits. With a paddle. "... the parcels won't be available again until at least February -- after Obama takes office -- during the next scheduled auction."
He should be forced to keep the land and have to pay the 1.8 million as well as any property tax during the time he owns it. Take everything he owns and everything he makes until he can get it paid off.
Why? Its public land, and he is giving it back to the public. Oil leases are $1.50 a year by the way, and its Federal Property, I doubt there is Federal Property tax, much less on leases for $1.50 a year.
If he owned the land, paid interest only and taxes from fund raising at the current US cash rate of 0% then sell in 10 years he could make a tidy profit.
Now that he's shown the way, I do wonder if he couldn't raise the money he bid from donations from those opposed to using the land for oil and gas. I'll bet Robert Redford would be at the head of the line with a big, fat check. And if he did raise the money, he'd probably avoid jailtime too.
you guys have great ideas. i was wondering something along these lines earlier. I would like to see him set up an accessible foundation...
Didn't Teddy Roosevelt invoke executive priviledge to set aside what is our national parks today? It would be something similar, I think, but on a grassroots campaign style. I'd support it.
He's raised enough for a down payment. I know times are tough, but I'm surprised all of the celebrities criticizing the sale haven't ponied up a donation to buy the land. (Where's your checkbook, Mr. Redford?)
