Your local government now has the right to kick you out of your home and sell it to a developer--without your permission. How ridiculous! A lot of people are already unhappy with the decision. Count me among them.
The Supreme Court has ruled that cities can seize homes through eminent domain for lame purposes such as “economic development.” ... My prediction? Abuse. Abuse. And more Abuse. Can anyone say “new athletic stadiums”? “New Wal-Marts”? “New strip malls”?
From the opening paragraphs of the Washington Post:
The Supreme Court today effectively expanded the right of local governments to seize private property under eminent domain, ruling that people's homes and businesses -- even those not considered blighted -- can be taken against their will for private development if the seizure serves a broadly defined "public use."
In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld the ability of New London, Conn., to seize people's homes to make way for an office, residential and retail complex supporting a new $300 million research facility of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. The city had argued that the project served a public use within the meaning of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution because it would increase tax revenues, create jobs and improve the local economy.
I saw someone mention that the only justification, seemingly, that a government needs to seize your property is that it wants more money, and, after all, what government wouldn't want more money?
I agree.
It's not as if you don't see this now, only the usual course has been for governments, or developers, to go to people with valuable property and try to buy it so they can put up their project. Now they don't have to ask.
It's getting harder to live without so much governmental interference, and this ruling gives businesses yet another boost at the expense of the rest of us.
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