Should foreign countries be allowed to buy land?

[Lamb]

Should foreign countries be allowed to buy land in other countries?

 

[atpollard]

You mean like the Louisiana Purchase and Seward’s purchase of Alaska?

 

[tango]

it probably makes little difference. If, say, France is prohibited from buying land in Germany is there anything to stop a French citizen or a French corporation from buying land? If so, immigration becomes all but impossible. If not, what's to stop a French citizen or corporation working with the French government to buy the land? Technically the government doesn't own it but to all intents and purposes it does.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Should foreign countries be allowed to buy land in other countries?

That is their business, but I would prefer that foreign countries no be able to purchase any land in the U.S. of A. Foreign citizens can buy land but in limited amount for personal use, for example, my parents owned a cottage on a small lot (maybe 1/4 acre, in Canada.

 

[Albion]

You mean like the Louisiana Purchase and Seward’s purchase of Alaska?

Well...those territories were owned by other nations that we recognized, and the land was then transferred to the USA.

With the current controversy, however, the foreign interests buy land IN the USA and it remains part of the USA. This territory does not get deeded over by treaty and become part of any other nation.

 

[tango]

Well...those territories were owned by other nations that we recognized, and the land was then transferred to the USA.

With the current controversy, however, the foreign interests buy land IN the USA and it remains part of the USA. This territory does not get deeded over by treaty and become part of any other nation.

Although it potentially raises questions about what a foreign interest may do with its land. If a foreign interest buys up, say, millions of acres of farmland in the USA that logically means the foreign interest owns the crops grown on that farmland, and could therefore gain substantial leverage over the nation by either deciding not to grow food, or by growing food and immediately exporting it to the homeland.

 

[Albion]

Although it potentially raises questions about what a foreign interest may do with its land. If a foreign interest buys up, say, millions of acres of farmland in the USA that logically means the foreign interest owns the crops grown on that farmland, and could therefore gain substantial leverage over the nation by either deciding not to grow food, or by growing food and immediately exporting it to the homeland.

Sure.

I was merely commenting on the inappropriate comparison of that situation to the Louisiana and Alaska purchases of the 19th century.

 

[Lees]

The U.S. can take over anyone's land in the U.S. that it wants to, if it deems it necessary. And if it was being used to hurt the U.S. it would deem it necessary.

Law of iminent domain.

Lees