I’m financially illiterate I guess…

[Hunting Wife]

Americans Who Want to Protect Their Public Lands and Waters Are "Financially Illiterate," Says Interior Secretary Burgum

Burgum railed against environmental protections during an infrastructure summit hosted by BlackRock, the world's largest investment firm

open.substack.com

Reminds me of the “basket of deplorables” comment.

Thoughts?

 

[marksjeep]

It'd be nice if the agency reviewed it's own balance sheet. The amount of time wasted on administrative minutiae due to current policy is incredible.

To the article, no one wants to stop activity on public lands. Some just want appropriate activities in appropriate places. Thanks for posting the article.

TGIF

 

[Forkyfinder]

“You know, all the people that are trying to stop activity on federal lands, you don’t understand the financial impact of it. I mean, all of you are financially literate,” Burgum said to the audience filled with politicians and CEOs, “wouldn’t it be great if we could have the world be a little more financially literate?” - full quote

Personally - I am lost on how giving commercial leasers pennies on the dollar is literate. Or selling some of your best asset on the cheap is apparent financial literacy. Not to mention - we are two weeks into a war - and its already cost us significantly more than managing all public lands did in 2025.

I dont imagine Dougy B ran his businesses like that - or he'd be broke.

 

[COEngineer]

It is nearly impossible to know what this administration wants because of the whiplashing statements and priorities, on all issues, not just conservation. Fortunately, maybe, that lack of consistency has made them less effective at destroying our public (and private) lands.

 

[SAJ-99]

This isn't news and no one should be surprised or confused by this article. The rich see the value of everything as determined by how it affects their balance sheet. Monetization is the point of everything. And as Randy has pointed out, public lands is the last unallocated gem of that balance sheet. Clean air, clean water, wild places are all obstacles to the end goal. The rich always win and the average American loses.

 

[Bonasababy]

The complete lack of subtlety actually gives me some hope.

Its been slow to come, but more and more people are realizing these folks are not conservative, dont care about our future. and are only out to make money for themselves and the wealthy.

 

[Irrelevant]

Does Dougie-poo have any idea how much it costs the feds (or state, or NGO) to plug orphaned wells, or the backlog that exists? Because once private profitability tanks, they're really good about ducking their financial obligations and leaving us taxpayers holding the bill. We've gotten so used to privatizing the profits and socializing the costs that we think that's actually how the world should work.

 

[Gellar]

Land is generally a good investment and does not depreciate in value. Wouldn’t wanting to sell public land owned by the federal government make Burgum financially illiterate?

 

[elkduds]

Does Dougie-poo have any idea how much it costs the feds (or state, or NGO) to plug orphaned wells, or the backlog that exists? Because once private profitability tanks, they're really good about ducking their financial obligations and leaving us taxpayers holding the bill. We've gotten so used to privatizing the profits and socializing the costs that we think that's actually how the world should work.

S-U-P
E-R-F
U-N-D
What's that spell?
What's that smell?

Just read book from '05 by Jared Diamond, Collapse. Global discussion of why civilizations fail. Briefly, they don't adapt when their culture and tech are noticeably delpeting their natural resources. Extensive discussion of the economics of mining: Dig it up. throw tailings, make $. When faced with cleanup costs, declare bankruptcy and leave the mess for taxpayers. Cited examples from MT, Nevada, Appalachia, South America, Summitville CO which poisoned the Alamosa river, now devoid of all plant and animal life for over 2 miles downstream from the mine.

• Mining operations deforested and denuded the area, removing topsoil and vegetation on most of the land area at Summitville, which led to large-scale erosion. Because of the highly mineralized character of the site, almost all exposed earthen materials are capable of acid generation. This acid mobilizes the variety of metals that contaminate the Alamosa River system below the site. Surface water quality downstream of the mine has been substantially degraded by low pH (acidic water),elevated dissolved solids and heavy metals (especially copper).

 

[SAJ-99]

are not conservative, dont care about our future. and are only out to make money for themselves and the wealthy

Interesting. Im not sure they would call themselves conservationists but would bet every one of them would say they are conservative and are looking out for all Americans (jobs,jobs,jobs).

 

[Irrelevant]

I guess we should be thankful. This is the gov't we chose.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

It is nearly impossible to know what this administration wants because of the whiplashing statements and priorities, on all issues, not just conservation. Fortunately, maybe, that lack of consistency has made them less effective at destroying our public (and private) lands.

Anything they can claim as #winning and if it "owns the libs" then that's just icing on the cake. Other than that, I don't think the admin has a clue what their own priorities actually are. They are finding out (daily) that the sound bite issues that got their base fired up are in most cases pipe dreams created from hate, fear and greed, and not practical or even logical in practice.

 

[elkduds]

I guess we should be thankful. This is the gov't we chose.