I would venture to say that the downhill slippery slope began with the "New Deal" when liberties were traded for jobs, support for family and the like. Monies from the Northern populated part of the US were given in exchange for natural resources in other parts, creating jobs and the like. A chemical plant or nuclear plant entity would purchase a large tract of rural farming land and the urban sprawl would begin. When one can't pay the mortgage, or much less the taxes, on a tract of land via farming, the tract becomes residential or commerical from which subdivision and business spring up supporting the plants. The other side of the coin is management entities who consolidate large tracts of land and lease the hunting rights or sell the tract for a substantial profit to other entities. It's more about profit than the sport of hunting or the chase of the quarry. Now, heirs upon receiving property, don't even let the ink dry on the instrument before they are asking what do I have and how much can I sell it for. The same applies to guns and the like. There isn't a connection to the past, or they do not desire one. Last is the care of the elderly: much of what they acquired thru life was exchanged for payment of their care. And once again management entities can purchase the land from nursing homes or thru auctions and the vicious cycle continues. There appears to be a problem when at auction, the Nature Conservancy(which has a $ limit) is continually outbid by the private sector.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
