The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)
Dec. 29, 1999
Freedom to farm
The Casolas' fight to use their Holmdel farm as they
see fit is more than a test of New Jersey's Right to Farm Act. ("Family:
Holmdel is trampling on our rights to farm; Dec. 15) There is a fundamental
principle at stake: our right to own and to use our private property as
we want.
To be sure, this right brings with it responsibility.
We should be subject to the consequences if our use of our property injures
others. But our use should not be dictated or restricted by any level
of government.
If we want to retain farmland as desirable open
space, the owners of such land must be free to use it in an economically
viable manner. What is the alternative? To force the owner
to maintain the land in an open state whatever the financial burden?
Or to force him to sell it to a developer to avoid financial ruin?
If you want open space, if you want farmland, you
want the government to abolish its counterproductive laws. Allow
the owners of the land to use it as they see fit.
Pat Bontempo, Chairman
Monmouth County Libertarian Party