Obama's quiet strike against the "socialist" label, page 1

Originally posted by ViperChili
How did government come to "own" this land in the first place?

What Constitutional authorization do they have to own it?

Interesting question. I would imagine it differs on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, eminent domain, in others, i suspect they pruchased it.

heres an example of the lands and buildings available:

Of all the terms used in this map that deserve a full definition, most important is what is the definition of an "excess property"? Excess properties can be any number of things: from office buildings to laboratories to storage sheds and warehouses. Excess property is property that an agency has identified as no longer needed for mission or program performance. When a building is "excess" it means that it can be offered to other Federal agencies. Even buildings that once served a humanitarian purpose, like family housing or schools, may be long-abandoned or out of use. When no need is found by a fellow Federal agency for the property, it then becomes "surplus." Surplus property is what is typically sold or disposed outside of the Federal Government. Looking at the map, one may notice that some of the properties are inside of a national park, forest or otherwise protected natural resource. The identification of excess assets on park land or land identified as a preservation district does not mean that the Administration will be selling our natural treasures; we are trying to maintain our national parks and forests in a way that is more efficient and reduces the expense for the American people without affecting the commitment to the safeguarding of our public lands. Properties whose location is sensitive, such as Department of Defense installations, are not represented on this map, but will go through the same review process. Here are the different real property uses associated with these three categories, as defined by the GSA:

Real Property Use Definition Agriculture Land under cultivation for food or fiber production. All Other Properties that cannot be classified elsewhere. Communications Systems Telephone and telegraph lines, data cables, radio towers, and other communications-related properties Dormitories / Barracks Buildings primarily used for housing individuals (without families/dependents). Family Housing Buildings primarily used as housing for families/dependents. Includes apartment houses, single houses, row houses, public housing, military personnel housing, Federal employee housing, and housing for institutional personnel. Flood Control and Navigation Land used for flood control and navigation projects Harbors and Ports Docks, piers, wharves, jetties and breakwaters, and other harbor, port, or coastal facilities. Hospital Buildings used primarily for furnishing in-patient diagnosis and treatment under physician supervision and having 24-hour-a-day registered graduate nursing services. This category also includes medical laboratories used for routine testing. This category excludes buildings used directly in basic or applied medical research. Industrial Buildings specifically designed and primarily used for production or manufacturing, such as the production or manufacture of ammunition, aircraft, ships, vehicles, electronic equipment, fish production, chemicals, aluminum, and magnesium. Included are buildings that house utility plants or utility system components such as pump stations or valves. Industrial (other than buildings) Structures and facilities (other than buildings) used for production or manufacturing, such as sliding shipways, retaining basins, and pipelines. Institutional Land used for institutional purposes such as hospitals, prisons, schools, libraries, chapels, and museums. Laboratories Buildings used directly in basic or applied research in the sciences (including medicine) and in engineering, such as medical laboratories; meteorological research laboratories; and buildings used in designing, developing, and testing of prototypes and processes for chemistry and physics. This category excludes medical or industrial laboratories used for routine testing. Monuments and Memorials Federal monuments, memorials, and statues. Museum Buildings used for the housing and/or display of tangible objects or collections for the purpose of displaying said objects or collections for public view and benefit on a regular basis. Navigation and Traffic Aids Includes buildings that house aircraft or ship navigation and traffic aids, such as beacon lights, antenna systems, ground control approach systems, and obstruction lighting. Office Buildings primarily used for office space or military headquarters. Office Building Locations Land containing office buildings or future planned office buildings, to include military headquarters buildings. Other Institutional Uses Buildings used for institutional purposes other than schools, hospitals, and prisons, such as libraries, chapels, and out-patient clinics. This category also includes food preparation and dining facilities, buildings housing entertainment and recreational activities, and visitor’s centers. Parking Structures Independent structures for non-residential parking of more than two vehicles. Power Development and Distribution Land used for power development and distribution projects. Railroads Tracks, bridges, tunnels, and fuel or water stations servicing railroads. Reclamation and Irrigation Land used for reclamation and irrigation projects. Recreational (other than buildings) Outdoor recreational structures such as athletic fields and courts, stadiums, golf courses, and ski slopes. Research and Development Land used directly in basic or applied research, such as science, medicine, and engineering Research and Development (other than Laboratories) Structures and facilities used directly in basic or applied research in science, medicine, and engineering, such as facilities used in the design, development, and testing of prototypes and processes and space and aeronautics research and development. Excludes facilities used for routine testing. Roads and Bridges Federally-owned highways, roads, related culverts, and connecting bridges. Includes surfaced and unsurfaced roads within National parks and forests, military installations, and other Federal installations. School Buildings used primarily for formally organized instruction, such as schools for dependent children of Federal employees, Indian schools, and military training buildings including specialized training facilities. Service Buildings used for service activities, such as maintenance and repair shops, dry cleaning plants, post exchange stores, airport hangars, and buildings primarily used for vehicle maintenance and repair. Service (other than buildings) Structures used for maintenance and repair, such as underground fueling systems, vehicle washing and greasing facilities, aircraft bore sight ranges, guided missile maintenance facilities, and ship repair structures. Storage Land used primarily for supply depots and other storage. Storage (other than buildings) Storage tanks, silos, igloos, underground vaults, and open storage improved areas. This category includes water reservoirs and POL storage tanks. Utility Systems Heating, sewage, water, and electrical systems that serve several buildings or other structures of an installation. Includes heating plants and related steam and gas lines, sewage disposal plants, storm and sanitary sewer lines, water treatment plants, wells, pump houses, reservoirs, and pipelines. Also includes electrical substations, standby or auxiliary power plants, lighting structures, and conduits. Vacant Land not being used. Warehouses Buildings used for storage, such as ammunition storage, covered sheds, and buildings primarily used for storage of vehicles or materials. Also included are underground or earth covered ammunition storage bunkers and magazines. This category excludes water reservoirs and POL storage tanks which are storage structures. Weapons Ranges Ranges where weapons are fired and areas where explosives are detonated.