In a stunning blow to property rights, the U.S. Supreme court ruled yesterday that local governments can seize your property for any reason that they deem necessary. They still have to pay the property owners full market value for their home. However, if their assessment disagrees with the property owner's assessment, the property owner will be still forced to sell.
The Supreme Court's decision was divided; 5-4. The more liberal judges voted for this judgement. My favorite Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, voted against it. And, "In a scathing dissent, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor criticized the majority for abandoning the conservative principle of individual property rights and handing "disproportionate influence and power" to the well-heeled.
"The specter of condemnation hangs over all property," O'Connor wrote. "Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory." - AP
I couldn't have said it any better. I am horrified. I never thought this day would come, and I am not naive.
In Texas, lawmakers are already scrambling to introduce state law that will protect their citizens' eminent domain. Will Florida's lawmakers do the same? We must immediately write to all our Florida legislators, if we are to hope to protect our rights.
If we do not protect our rights, no one else will. And if we allow these rights to be chipped away, slowly, than we only have ourselves to blame when we finally realize "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper." -T.S. Elliot
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12 comments:
OMG. How did I miss that??? I didn't see the news last nite.
Well, In India, this happens illegaly. I have heard of cases where the Chief Minister of a state actually sent hitmen to threaten families into selling their property. Its sad that these families have no where to go as the police report to the Chief Minister.
Yes, this is outrageous. The constitution is our only real protection. It is frightening that the Supreme Court has made another ruling that is opposed to the intent of the founding fathers.
I think we are one of maybe 8 to 10 states that have state laws prohibiting the use of eminent domain for private use. Other states must now enact legislation to correct this abuse.
Check out Wall Street Journal's www.opinionjournal.com and Neal Boortz' site at www.boortz.com.
I'm sorry. I forget that the internet is global. I live in Florida.
Kathleen,
Thank goodness. This is excellent news. The sites you mentioned don't have anything specific to the subject (that I could find) but I did a google, and found this interesting link:
http://www.flaeminentdomain.com/
legaladvertising.shtml
So, we apparently don't have need to be alarmed in Florida, but we do need to be concerned for other Americans in other states.
I do believe we should still contact our congressmen, but we now need to concentrate on the Federal, not the state, level.
Michelle (and others),
Your letter should be simple, and it should come from you. If I recommend a form letter, it would be less effective. However, you could say something like this:
Dear Mr. or Ms. Federal Congressperson;
I am dismayed by the recent ruling (on 6/23/05) by the Supreme Court which allows property to be seized by local governments for both public and private use.
I am writing to ask you to do whatever is within your power to better protect the property rights of U.S. citizens.
Please let me know how I can be of any assistance in this matter. My name, address, and phone number are listed below.
Sincerely,
Michelle
Saur, on www.opinionjournal.com go to "Today's Featured News." The article is titled "Kennedy's Vast Domaine." On www.boortz.com go to Neal's Nuze. First page the article starts . . .I'm not through screaming. Both articles are very interesting and give a clear summary of the decision.
I want to see a fight. Seriously. I'd love to see someone just say "come and take it!" and wait outside with a shotgun. This is hopefully when the people say enough is enough.
*LOL* Like something out of the beginning of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...
No guns. Just fists.
...and no gloves, right, Daniel?
Check this out. Payback's a...
http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html
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