[countrydummy]

Again been awhile since I posted, but I am back and ready to rock and roll, I pray all of you will do what this email alert message requests!

[countrydummy]

ping

[HairOfTheDog]

I would rather see the full text. A tax break for private sellers who sell their land for conservation to land trusts does not strike me as wrong yet, but then I am a bit of a square peg here on conservation issues.

Don't flame me if you want me to buy into this. Anyone who wants to explain why land trusts are inherently bad, or why their shouldn't be a tax break for leaving lands undeveloped, I would love to listen.

[Mamzelle]

I don't really understand your vehement objection to this. Given that purchasers of land trusts cannot develop or use the land (except, perhaps, for some grazing/recreation or other limited uses), a 25% "discount" would not be all that much of an incentive to take land out of development. Not all land trusts become people-unfriendly, after all. Some are hunting and fishing preserves. As for private property owners, they are also not all that averse to having a land trust in their neighborhoods.

They're kind of a tax-avoidance gimmick, sometimes designed to keep a ranch or farm in the family without having to liquidate it for estate taxes, but not this terrible pernicious threat you describe.

[Ramius]

So what is so wrong with land trusts? Seems to me that they are doing it the right way: If you want to control what happens to a piece of land, *buy it*. A tax break (rarely ever a bad idea) makes it easier for them. So what?

Your comments seem to say that some family will somehow be *forced* to sell to these trusts instead of a family member. Not quite so... the seller can sell to whomever they wish, can they not?

[Ramius]

Don't churches, orphanages, and nonprofits already get a property tax break?

Methinks thou dost protest too much. Who's side are you on?

[freeper12]

Also keep in mind that in many communities, it is actually better from a local-tax perspective to loose the land to a non-prfit, than to have a row of houses put in that need to be added to the sewer, and in general, if a new house has the "average" number of kids (i.e. about 2.5), they in general cost more to have from a school perspective, than the owners pay in property taxes.

In my town, the less houses the better and if some rich person wants to sell or donate his/her development rights away to a NON-GOVERNMENTAL agency, I am all for it. I don't think the govt should be in the business of buying up land though...but thats just me.

[Henrietta]

I don't see why this is a big deal. You can already donate appreciated property to a charity and take a tax deduction for the FMV amount (as opposed to your tax basis).

[Carry_Okie]

If anything, these organizations need their tax exempt status revoked and their boards of directors thrown in jail for racketeering, tax-evasion, fraud, and manipulation.

[B. A. Conservative]

The Nature Conservancy are basically fronts for socialistic programs designed to grow and empower government. They have nothing to do with actually protecting or enhancing the environment. I live within spitting distance of several of the properties that they have bought and turned over to government. Everyone of these particular properties has suffered gross mismanagement and devaluation of the surrounding private properties. And everyone of these properties are in very desirable locales where private interests have improved and enhanced the value of their own properties. The organizations degrade the environment at taxpayer expense.

If you are considering contributing money, property or dealing with these people, I suggest you reconsider and look at what they have done in other places.

Most so-called environmental groups are actually anti-capitalistic and are only interested in enhancing government and other socialistic ventures. The people who control these organizations don't care about improving the environment.

[lewislynn]

What are you worried about? Republican "adults" are back in charge...Republican "adults" will protect your rights.

[knuthom]

LAND GRABBING SECRETS OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

UNDUE INFLUENCE: The Nature Conservancy

[Bob J]

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