June 23, 2005
Fundamentals: , Opinion:
A suitable follow-up to the passage of the anti-flag burning amendment...
By Jack Grant...can be found here:
High court OKs personal property seizures
Majority: Local officials know how best to help cities
Thursday, June 23, 2005 Posted: 1450 GMT (2250 HKT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- -- The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses -- even against their will -- for private economic development.
It was a decision fraught with huge implications for a country with many areas, particularly the rapidly growing urban and suburban areas, facing countervailing pressures of development and property ownership rights.
The 5-4 ruling represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.
In other words, eminent domain now trumps private property rights, even when the private property is being seized to give to a developer so the developer can make money.
So, those of you who wonder why I always complain about expanding the power of government and my loud cries of "foul" any time I believe the basis of our rights are being eroded, do you have any questions why I make such noise?
The preservation of property rights has been a foundation for our robust economy. Without certainty, you cannot plan for the future.
China (the mainland part) seizes what would be nominally private property at whim.
We are not to that point yet, but we have started down the same road.
Government apparently now ALWAYS triumphs over the individual, because government "knows better"...
Welcome to 1984
