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I think the man should get fair market value for his land, or charge rent for the use of it for the memorial.

It is his property and he should be compensated. $10 Million is not a huge amount of money. The property is easily worth that much.

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I think at this point there needs to be a focus on an immediate increase in spending and I think this is a time when deficit fear has to take a second seat . . . I believe later on there should be tax increases. Speaking personally, I think there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax at a point down the road and recover some of the money."
-- Barney Frank, October 20, 2008

Is it common practice for the government to "persuasively purchase" property on which an accident has occurred? I don't see them using the powers of eminent domain to acquire land every time someone runs off the road and hits a tree. Not to sound callous, but what makes the lives of those in the plane more "monument worthy" than those of other disasters or tragic events?

It's not callous but a fair question and point. The loss in humanity is the same and each of their loved ones will likely mourn their loss the same. The distinguishing factor when it comes to public monuments, however, is whether the loss involves a person and/or event involving regional, national and/or international significance.