Public versus private stewardship
February 19th, 2006
Right-wingers love to crow about private “stewards” of the land. They claim that private owners love, cherish, and preserve land… and that public ownership leads to “tragedy of the commons” abuse.
While there is certainly abuse of public land (mostly in giveaways by the GOP), it is public ownership that ensures access for all, values the land as part of a larger ecosystem, and recognizes that the worth of property is not always related to the resources that it contains.
In the Columbia Gorge, Friends of the Columbia Gorge offers this instructive display…
BEFORE: private “stewardship”
“When this property was privately owned, it was off limits for public use. Excavation for gravel scarred the landscape; junked cars, industrial debris, and temporary buildings created an eyesore.”
AFTER: public stewardship
“Restored to natural contours and with buildings and debris removed, this area is now open to the public as a day use area.”
Of course, perhaps the distinction between public and private is increasingly not important. After all, public land is being SOLD and privatized by the Federal government.
Related posts: View from Harney County, A little good news (parks) with the bad (the gorge), Disgorging
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