The Furious Spinner

I DESPISE eminent domain. I always have. I think it is blatant thievery by the government. The government took my grandpa's land. They didn't force him, as my father always reminds me. They paid him for it. To me, that's not the point. If it's your property, it's your property. In the past, one could argue that the government could take land (and pay for it) if it was clearly established that it was needed for a true public good, like a road (although I think they should just go around). But governmental entities have started condemning land when owners won't sell, and then they just take it, paying way below market value. That happened in our little burg recently. Someone owned a small house down by the river. The Port wanted it. The owner wouldn't sell it. So the city (or county, I can't remember which) condemned it and took it. It is outrageous.

Thursday the Supreme Court ruled that the government can decide to take your land for the "public good" in order for a third party to build a mall or a factory or a beauty salon. Think about it. You don't own your own home. Not really. Not if the government could take it at any time. (As Mario said, "That's really not any different than a communist state.") Individuals seem to have no rights. Business trumps everything now. I have been too upset and outraged by this to even write about it. It just boggles my mind. Tom has some articles on his site, and here's what the New York Times is saying. (I don't know what's causing this huge space after the post. I won't be able to work on it for a couple of days. Sorry.) 0 comments

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