Trump vs farmer

[Jaggy thistle]

Mr Trump might be in there to make money but the jobs he will create both in construction and afterwards must be good for the area and Scotland we have many acres of sand dunes but houses and jobs are in short supply as for the farmer no way can he be forced to sell his land Mr Trump will just have to work round the farm

[Ozman1944]

Just another greedy developer trying to make even MORE money. Sure there will be jobs (while building, but after that?). But then how many locals will be good at bar tending, and grounds maintenance? Hardly permanent employment for the masses.
The U.S. sucks up to the wealthy, and has sacrificed much of their Eco system and endangered species in exchange for a quick buck, Let's hope the Scots have more sense.

Go Farmer! Stand your ground! Don't let this nitwit push you around!

[Mr. MacDougall]

That's an interesting statement, Oz, given that not one, but two US municipalities have so far denied Mr. Trump the chance to build what he wants....

[Ozman1944]

Maybe folk are finally wising up?

[Makeitstop]

Maybe folk are finally wising up?

Well, we've had a problem with takings in the US for quite a while now, with many local governments condemning and seizing private property in order to sell to developers and increase economic activity, or for idiotic pet projects and other such non-essential crap.

Oddly enough it was the Kelo decision (when the supreme court validated all this crap by essentially rewriting the constitution) which finally got people's attention and caused many areas to ban or limit the practice.



But as for the farm land, sell it, keep it, I don't really care. As long as no one actually takes it against the owner's will I have no objections either way.

[TheKiltedWonder]

But as for the farm land, sell it, keep it, I don't really care. As long as no one actually takes it against the owner's will I have no objections either way.

Personally, I'm opposed to overdevelopment, so I'm naturally sympathetic to the farmer and here there should be objections even if he wants to sell it. It's a protected area and the local council is obligated to consider its protected status before deciding to OK development. I somehow think the only green they thought about was dollars (ok, ok pounds) and not nature...
I realize jobs are importat too but how many jobs will be created for townspeople and how many will be created for workers that the place will ship in seasonally? And I know the place will create large tax revenue's, but at what cost?
Ok, I'll now get off my environmentally-friendly soap box

[Amoskeag]

I don't want to get too political here but I feel that must add my $.02.
I am in favor of Mr. Forbes, he is a farmer and those guys are getting scarce these days. The land is his and he should be able to with it what he pleases. I won't comment on this until I pay the taxes and or mortgage; it's just not my business. I am naturally suspicious of any rich developer/industrialist simply because of what I perceive as a built-in sense of avarice. This whole affair smacks of the eminent domain issue. The fact that Mr. Trump is famous(infamous) merely raises the stakes a little. I don't know whether or Scotland needs another golf course but I see this as a matter between two non-public concerns.

What makes me nervous is the propensity we have to involve "The Government" in what is essentially a private matter. It seems that when a situation arises that we disagree with and is beyond our immediate control, we turn to our public agencies to step in and make it right for us. While this may solve an immediate problem it sets a precedent for future governmental meddling whether asked for/ needed or not. I believe that we can find justification and rationalization for any point of view if we look long and hard enough (think O.J Simpson ). We may win the battle at hand but the ultimate cost exacts a high price.

This is not what our ancestors regarded as the American Spirit and it is just what many of our immigrant forebears came here to escape. The power that exists in a democratic form of government come from us, the people and when we willingly give up some of that individual responsibility we transfer it to the government. This, in effect, greases an already slippery slope.

Now that I have completed my diatribe I would like to say that it is respectfully submitted here with the highest regard to the members of this online community. This is my opinion and I certainly do not wish to be contentious, simply because we should be able to speak our minds without it. I realize that I have probably stayed far off topic and I willingly accept any action that the moderators see fit to take take.
Thanks,
Bob

[starbkjrus]

Well, according to BBC News the Aberdeenshire Council has rejected Mr. Trump - by a margin of one vote. Here is the story - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7118105.stm

The trump folks are saying they may appeal or they may "go do something spectacular elsewhere - just not in Scotland". The arrogance of these idiots. I'd say good riddance!

[TheKiltedWonder]

Well, according to BBC News the Aberdeenshire Council has rejected Mr. Trump - by a margin of one vote.

Huzzah!

[McClef]

The only way we really see anything of Mr Trump over here is in his Apprentice series.

Clearly there he is used to being courted and to setting the agenda and expects to get a return on his investments. The same of course applies to Sir Alan Sugar who does his own Apprentice series over here but property is less of an issue for him.

But maybe there is a lesson here - money does not always talk and people cannot always be bought. No doubt much of what the Trumps and and the Sugars of this world do is beneficial but Kudos to those who show some independence of spirit too.

There is a farm set in the middle of the M62 motorway that runs across the Pennine Hills - they stood their ground too and the Motorway had to be built around it in both directions.

The powerful cannot always get their own way and that's not a bad thing.