Re: Overheard on the scanner

In article 
<de62e34c-7991-4cda-894e-d59ffa3eed3b@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 petertrei@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:

> This notion of absolute property rights over land is hardly universal.

Indeed, as I think he has already conceded, he doesn't believe in 
absolute property rights over land--planes are allowed to fly high 
above, radio stations to broadcast across. He just thinks he knows, with 
certainty, what things belong in the bundle of rights that goes with 
ownership of land. As you point out, that varies a good deal from 
country to country.

It also varies within the U.S. with state and time. It used to be the 
case, to some extent I think still is, that Pennsylvania recognized 
three different and separable estates in land: Surface estate, mineral 
estate, support estate. I will leave it to readers to work out what 
happens if you own only the first.

-- 
 http://www.daviddfriedman.com/
http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/
 Author of _Harald_, a fantasy without magic.
 Published by Baen, paperback in bookstores now