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Who owns the beach?
November 05, 2004
“I’m just sayin, I’m sayin, if own the beach property, right, do you own like the sand, and the water?�
“Nobody owns the water. God owns, it’s God’s water.�
“what if someone like walks onto your beach, like, let’s say you do own it, right.�
“nah man, you don’t own the beach, well, you own to sand on the beach man,�
“what if there’s a naked girl on the beach?�
“you don’t own the girl…�
“what if she breaks her foot on your proprty?�
“she can sue me!�
Ever wonder about the opening lines to Super Troopers? (Yes, I transposed them as well as I could.) There is actually a good debate there; one that is currently at the Michigan Supreme Court, waiting decision. Michigan law used to be that you owned land up to the high-water level of the land - beach walkers could walk on the sand immediately next to the water. This summer, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that this was no longer ok… people must walk in the water. I believe the waterfront to be public property, and I hope the Supreme Court decides against the Appeals Court… we’ll see.
Posted by paul at November 5, 2004 05:01 PM
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Dan said on November 8, 2004 08:40 PMSomone needs to kick the patricians in the wazoo.
I think these well-to-do are Aristocrazy. What else do they want? Revert to Feudalism? Do I have to kiss someone's hand to enjoy a little slice of nature? Next they'll want to pass laws to keep alewife off their beaches? "Stand back, you stinkies! Honey, call the laywer. We've got stinkies on our beach again. Eeew!" "That's it, I'm calling our congressman. We don't deserve this kind of treatment. The proletariate have no respect."
If most beach-dwellers were as generous as your family this would not be a problem. Your view is sensible and I hope the Court is equally as sensible. Furthermore, I think this debate is ridiculous. Refer to My Lament for Edwards Mountain to hear background for my ranting.