IN A DAY AND AGE where one voice screaming among thousands can have Christian monuments removed from public buildings and development projects shut down for the benefit of an endangered weed, we have the Supreme Court issuing a ruling in June to set the record straight for the majority. However, this ruling comes at the dismay of individual landowners across America, and threatens to further undermine the American privilege of individual ownership.
Eminent domain is the issue being brought to the table --- or more correctly, to the courts --- as our government legal system dukes it out over land use laws and public benefit.
Eminent domain has been invoked thousands of times, for public infrastructures and developments that include water lines, sewer systems, highways, railroads, and more. If the involved governing bodies determine collectively that there is a public benefit from the placement of such structures, even across private lands, these lands may be commandeered by Uncle Sam, after providing "just compensation" to the owner in the terms of dollars, and the property becomes public.
In recent years various local governments across the U.S. have been invoking eminent domain to acquire lands for privately owned mega-businesses such as shopping malls and retail stores, citing that benefits to the community outweigh the loss of ownership to the individuals. Many believe that increased tax dollars to the community for placement of such mega-stores is an additional incentive.
Tension has risen to the point that a case made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the local government in upholding eminent domain. The Supreme Court's decision last month clarified that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses -- even against their will -- for private and public economic development.
Since the laws of this country are dynamic, or ever-changing, such rulings by the high court have a huge impact on future cases as individuals stand their ground against the billion dollar behemoths who are looking for prime space to make their next footprint.
While eminent domain is not the first choice of action, the top 2 retailers in the country have used this tactic a number of times to acquire the position they had been pursuing. More people vote with their dollars than with their ballots, and while some may oppose the pressure to small business and the loss of individual ownership that these developments cause, most consumers will frequent a new "big box" store if one is in their area, and complain if this type of availability is not nearby.
There appears to be little recourse for the general public against Supreme Court rulings of this type, accept to pressure Congressmen into developing new law that would counteract this approach. A California man came up with a brilliant suggestion though. Read on.
WEARE, N.H. - Following a Supreme Court ruling last week that gave local governments power to seize private property, someone has suggested taking over Justice David Souter's New Hampshire farmhouse and turning it into a hotel.
"The justification for such an eminent domain action is that our hotel will better serve the public interest as it will bring in economic development and higher tax revenue to Weare," Logan Darrow Clements of California wrote in a letter faxed to town officials in Weare on Tuesday.
Souter, a longtime Weare resident, joined in the 5-4 court decision allowing governments to seize private property from one owner and turn it over to another if doing so would benefit a community.
Tom Clouser is a 38 year old farmer in Pennsylvania. In addition to farming, he and his father publish a monthly 16-page newspaper called "Trees 'n' Turf", which targets subjects of interest to those in land use industries and activities. View their website at http://www.clouserfarm.net
maid service near Mundelein ..One way to increase evaporation in the ocean might be... Read More
Recently the CIA staged a practice simulation of a cyber... Read More
When I was growing up, I actually considered a career... Read More
"Rugged individualism" is actually a euphemism for Thomas Hobbes' baseless... Read More
Most politicians are completely out to lunch and totally Machiavellian... Read More
A friend of mine, who lives in the thick of... Read More
America must implement a policy on Election Reform that is... Read More
Earlier this month, I heard President George W. Bush and... Read More
The most damaging factor to our economy today is the... Read More
Recently I got to talking with a gentleman at a... Read More
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has... Read More
Recently scientists have been watching the exponential growth of marine... Read More
It is amazing how the Federal Trade Commission has destroyed... Read More
You say, you want to help the Palestinians, but most... Read More
Businesses advertising alcohol either in TV or non-broadcast format need... Read More
From the comfort of their plush offices and five to... Read More
The United States is losing its industrial capacity quite rapidly.... Read More
30 years ago, California, later followed by other states, decided... Read More
Many are quick to point out the benefits of religion... Read More
It is a law that we register deadly weapons with... Read More
They do not allow the criticism of the president in... Read More
We know that the International Terrorists like the idea of... Read More
Ethanol is a great way to produce fuel, great fuel... Read More
We all know Elliot Spitzer is going to run for... Read More
For years I have been amazed as I've listened to... Read More
high-end home cleaning Bannockburn ..Why are intelligent people so afraid of the idea that... Read More
Most politicians are completely out to lunch and totally Machiavellian... Read More
In these times when states are suffering extreme downward pressure... Read More
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a report... Read More
Leave it to the Columbia City Police Officers Association in... Read More
If we go hog wild towards the liberal agenda where... Read More
Our government is set up like a modern day franchise.... Read More
The number of countries in the world at the moment... Read More
Clint Eastwood recently plunged into the murky political pond with... Read More
The plight of whistleblowers ? those employees who sound the... Read More
-The Protocol plan 'will remain invisible until the moment when... Read More
Public utilities and a problematic issue on the allowance of... Read More
Is it just me or are you concerned that illegal... Read More
The Second World War was the continuation of World War... Read More
I'VE ALWAYS ARGUED THAT ECONOMIC ILLITERACY IS VERY COSTLY.This is... Read More
Veterans Affairs Employees using government credit cards on personal items?... Read More
As a result of the conflict analysis exercise and a... Read More
After arranging the Armistice that ended or settled outstanding issues... Read More
The FTC franchising division purports their law enforcement experience in... Read More
The US Homeland Security is worried about Hydrofoil or Skimmer... Read More
A. THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPETITIONThe aims of competition (anti-trust) laws... Read More
Last week, I began my look ahead to the 2008... Read More
The recent scathing remarks by High Court Judge Richard Mawrey... Read More
Last year a Maryland State Legislator whom I presume never... Read More
For anyone who wishes to become an armchair General in... Read More
Political |