Flashback: Federal Lands Mostly Benefit Wealthy Elites.

Individuals who have earned their wealth elsewhere bring it to the elite locations when they move or retire near parks paid for by the public. The individuals who move often enjoy lower tax rates on their passive income. The locals who benefit are those who sell or rent real estate — there is no matching, positive effect on local wages.

Select federal lands attract wealthy elites, don’t benefit working class

 BY TIM OREN
Megan Lawson’s June 16 Guest Opinion, “Federal lands support diverse rural economies,” claimed federally-owned lands promote a diverse, Western rural economy. Contrary to Lawson’s assertions, today, the economic effect of federal lands in the West is to attract wealthy elites to exclusive resort areas, with no corresponding benefit to wage earners, entrepreneurs or the poor.

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