Shudder to think

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I am disappointed but not surprised at the solution to budget deficits offered by Jonathan Johnson: Allow Utah to "deploy our state's abundant natural resources" on federal lands ("Utah deserves to own federal land," Opinion, Jan. 3).

A capitalist's goal is to privatize profit and socialize expense. I grew up in San Juan County and shudder to think what would happen to the treasure of Utah's federal lands if it were turned over to those whose only vision is short-term personal profit at the expense of some of the most remarkable ground in the world. It belongs to all of the citizens of the United States.

Matthew E. Keele

Salt Lake City