Homestead mailing list

[Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

At 11/11/2004, you wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- From: Don 
> Bowen<mailto:don.bowen AT earthlink.net>  It does look like a place where one 
> could have a a nice place with a
> garden, chickens and bees except that only blooded Carolinians and 
> Chamorrow can own land.
>
> Well, everybody gotta make livin' somehow -
> if you're not gonna live forever - and you don't
> intend to leave whatever to your kids - what's
> wrong with renting from an owner (who then
> won't have to work at all ??) until you decide
> you've had enough of whatever ?

It is a political choice in a government that considers corruption "the 
island way."  The land owners can without cause reclaim their land and you 
have no recourse.  Any improvements are lost.  Several Chinese farmers work 
the land now but do almost nothing to improve soil conditions because as 
soon as they do the rents are increased.

  Much of the land is held by a family rather than an individual.  IN the 
80s when the Japanese were really starting to invest in the island, several 
court cases came about because an individual of a family wanted to sell 
prime beach front land where an elder did not.  The courts found for the 
individuals and several historic village sites are now under luxury 
hotels.  The land is still owned by the family but all buildings and 
improvements are owned by the tenets.  Many of those leases went for 
millions and family members moved away from the island to places like 
Seattle..

Don Bowen
Awl Knotted Up Woodworking
Valley Center, CA             http://www.braingarage.com