Statistics compiled by the American Farmland Trust, which seeks to protect farmland from non-farm development, show this about New Jersey:
While it is the fourth smallest state in area, it has spent more money than any other to buy development rights from farmers and permanently deed-restrict farm property against development. Since 1985, the state has spent $465 million in public funds and another $237 million from non-public funding sources on purchase of development rights (PDRs). It has another $137 million in the bank earmarked for spending. That is more than a quarter of all PDR spending nationally.
I propose this. A similar program to preserve 'the power of the ? hm ?' and insure our heritage is untouched except for those private 'insitutions' that have proven to be superior in it's patriotism and loyalty to the country. I like The New York Times. So, let's put it this way. What if the stockholders of The New York Times were treated as a preservation policy no different than precious New Jersey Farmland and the owners could literally sell the 'corporate' rights, as if airspace over a New York Property for 99 years. How does that sound. A profession so important to the USA that is needs preservation efforts while allowing complete freedom of the profession to thrive and do it's work as it has all these years. I think it's great idea. It can be a state program, but, I would like to see a federal program that maintains the private operations of these institutions. At the same time, journalism offices should have tax reductions no different than the fertile soils of the USA. Intellectual property rights that require tax cuts to preserves and guarantees the smooth operations of our newspapers. This could be extrapolated to media services as well should there be the desire of the profession to take it in that direction.
