LandThink

I’m often asked — usually by my wife of 25 years — “Just what is it that you do all day?” She’s a lawyer. She has an office building, a sign, a secretary and an old-fashioned barrister’s desk the size of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck.

Since I write a weekly column on country real estate, I decided to visit the websites of Senators Barack Obama (www.barackobama.com) and John McCain (www.johnmccain.com) to learn what they thought about my special interest.

Readers might take a look at the two presidential campaign websites to see which candidate appears to understand land issues best (or if at all). Tax policy is often used by the government to discourage and encourage certain behaviors. How each of us defines the best interest of the country determines what our tax-policy preferences are.

Conservation easements vary a lot, although all are supposed to serve some public interest. Some are sold, but most are donated. They are usually sold or donated in perpetuity, though some have limited terms.

My heart — that mean-spirited little pump I keep around for “Casablanca” and odd emotional assignments — hurts for the Midwest folks who have been wiped out by flooding, once again.