Letter: Federal lands are part of our wealth

The usage of our land is one of the more important decisions we make regarding the quality of our lives. Related to this is the transfer of federal lands to local governments and agencies, be that transfer here on the Columbia shoreline or elsewhere.

It’s important to realize that federal lands are also “public” lands, for federal property is equally owned by all American citizens. Huge parts of your wealth are the wildlands, libraries, parks, schools, etc., designated as public property. When federal-public lands are transferred to local governments, some of the land is utilized by them, but some is often sold off. Consequently, the transfer of land frequently results in substantial losses of wealth for the majority of people.

In a society where inequality is growing and environmental issues are becoming increasingly critical, is that really what we want? I submit that we now need to work more on societal improvement rather than on growth.

If you prefer to see wildlife instead of cows, trees instead of concrete, if you love natural beauty and want to preserve it for future generations, then you might want to resist the transfer of public lands (your land) to other uses and owners.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 3:10 AM with the headline "Letter: Federal lands are part of our wealth."