Looks Like I have to do Your Job For you -- for inquiring small minds

[Universe Prince]

Your question, Plane, says "when we own some things in common". I said, "The citizens of the U.S. do not collectively own the U.S. If the citizens collectively own the nation, [...] Because if the nation is owned collectively, [...] if the nation is owned collectively, [...] the idea of the nation being collectively owned." Is the difference between "some things" and "nation" not immediately obvious? Do I really need to expand on what I said for the mistake to become clear?

Navagable waters and most roadways ,even air lanes are communally owned and often this is the best alternative.

Are they, and why do you think such is the best alternative?

[Plane]

Does "nation " have ownership?

[sirs]

I don't think he gets it Plane.  Possibly, never will     

[Universe Prince]

Does "nation " have ownership?

No.

[sirs]

So sovereignty means nothing to you, apparently.  We don't own our nation...it just sort of...exists in the same time and place we exist.  A hole in the fabric of the space time & continuum

[Universe Prince]

So sovereignty means nothing to you, apparently.  We don't own our nation...it just sort of...exists in the same time and place we exist.  A hole in the fabric of the space time & continuum

So individual rights mean nothing to you, apparently. We are not, according to you, individuals with rights, individuals who own ourselves and our own property. According to you, we just exist to serve the collective.

What? You didn't say that? It's ridiculous to claim you meant that? What?

[sirs]

The Constitution spells out our individual rights.  Or last time I checked

Next

[Universe Prince]

The Constitution spells out our individual rights.  Or last time I checked

Next

No, it doesn't. And it certainly does nothing to mitigate your apparent lack of support for the idea of individual rights.

[sirs]

Perhaps a quick check of the Bill of Rights might jog your memory on individual rights, and my dedicated support of them.  I'm still amazed though at your idea that someone has the right to enter any country they want, sovereignty be damned, if they reeeeaaaaaally need to better their lives.  Americans don't own America....who the hell are they to tell some non-american who can & can't enter their, ooops, not their country....a country that merely exists.

[Amianthus]

So, Sirs, anyone who is in the US legally can over to your house and use it for their needs?

That is what is meant by property being "owned" by the community.

Or do you have individual ownership of your property? Can you direct who is allowed to come onto your property and who is to stay off?

[sirs]

So, Sirs, anyone who is in the US legally can over to your house and use it for their needs?  That is what is meant by property being "owned" by the community.

And there you have the answer, fitted nicely in the question posed.  The home is owned by the individual.  America is owned by the "community" of American citizens.  Both with their own set of laws that protect their sovereignty

The analogy of the Country being owned by America to a home owner owning their own home, remains dead on

Or do you have individual ownership of your property? Can you direct who is allowed to come onto your property and who is to stay off?

Precisely, applying to the sovereignty of both the home property and Country

[Amianthus]

And there you have the answer, fitted nicely in the question posed.  The home is owned by the individual.  America is owned by the "community" of American citizens.  Both with their own set of laws that protect their sovereignty

So, your home is not part of "America"?

[sirs]

   Could have swore we clarified individual vs community.  Think of a box within a box. 1 BIG box and millions of little boxes in the 1 big box.  America is the big box, my home is one of the millions of individual boxes.  Both boxes with laws protecting their rights and reinforcing their sovereignty

Is that still not making sense?

[Amianthus]

So, the country is an accumulation of the "small boxes"? Each of which is owned individually?

And no one really owns the "big box" (because it's really just an accumulation of little boxes, each of which is already owned)?

[sirs]

Americans own the Big Box called America.  (not sure why I'm repeating myself, as there is no conflict here)