JC> Sure, if the land to be broken up was communally-held land. Makes sense 
o
  > me. BUT... Keep in mind that in the U.S. there are all kinds of 
recedents
  > such as the various Homestead Acts, Oklahoma Land Grab, immigration, etc.
  > Offer seemingly desparate indiviuduals "free" land or a "fresh start" and
  > a LOT of them will _jump_ at the chance without even considering the
  > consequences or who might be "hurt" in the long run. I seriously doubt 
that
  > anyone who came out West on the Oregon Trail ever considered the 
possibilit
  > that the land was not the U.S. Government's to give away.
"Anyone" is a strong statement.  Many did not.  Maybe most did not.
some knew very well what they were doing.
                               Sondra
-*-
 þ SLMR 2.1a þ Iron in the hand is better than thunder in the mouth.
--- Opus-CBCS 1.7x via O_QWKer 1.7 
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