[MD] Capitalism: A Question of Morality

[Dan Glover]

Hello everyone

>From: "Case" <Case at iSpots.com>
>Reply-To: moq_discuss at moqtalk.org
>To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
>Subject: Re: [MD] Capitalism: A Question of Morality
>Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 23:59:52 -0500
>
>Dan,
>
>Where I come from this happens daily.

I think it's happening in many places around the globe.

>But even from what you said the guy is
>only holding on to the land for a few more years until it escalates further
>in value.

I don't think a person can farm the land and not love it. As a real estate 
broker it's my job to look out for the best interest of my clients so 
perhaps in telling the story I downplayed the hours of blood, sweat, and 
tears that went into the old farm. But believe me, anticipation of greater 
value is of lesser concern to "Roy" than the hundreds of new houses going up 
all around him.

>I don't imagine he is holding on to it so he can sell it to the
>Nature Conservancy.

Well, funny you should mention it, but I just helped structure a 1033 
exchange for "Roy" involving the park district. The exchange involved nearly 
200 acres of land in its natural pristine state along a creek that runs 
through his property. Being a flood plain it didn't pay to farm the land so 
it has always been left to its own. We used to hunt there when I was a kid. 
It's nice to know it will stay like it is.

>Since it is being farmed it is not like it is a bird
>sanctuary now.

You would be amazed at the clouds of birds!

>So if the moral issue is shafting the family friend my guess
>is the guy can see the writing on the wall and should be looking for
>somewhere else anyway.

Really! Dog eat dog, huh? I guess you're probably right.

>But the other moral issue is providing for Roy's
>family and planning for a comfortable retirement.

Roy's family have their eyes on the prize, believe me. I hear that inherited 
money soon evaporates though.

>
>I say Live Long and Prosper.

So it's a no-brainer. Spoken like a true capitalist!