"trustiness" of the historic trust

according to a recent mailing, the national trust for historic preservation has decided i should donate to them. the organization is "dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities." this seemed like an exciting idea, and the name "trust" may make one think it's mission is similar to the nature conservancy's (original) mission to purchase critical habitat. unfortunately, the national trust works through "state legislatures and city halls ... to encourage the adoption of laws and policies that support preservation." its modus operandi include lobbying for "smart growth" policies in neighborhoods (restricting property rights) and lobbying against chain drugstores, which damage "a community's historic places and its unique sense of place."

it's too bad that an organization dedicated to preserving private property tries to restrict private construction. however, they're not completely anti-liberty. although they do have a veritable toolkit for restricting property rights, much of their odd drugstore crusade seems targeted at the corporate level, allowing for consensual, mutually beneficial, preservation. although, for my dime i'd rather cheap medicine and an ugly building to the reverse.

more from FH on private conservation: prairie chickens (no joke), and an archeological site

Labels: political, social