Paul, that is it. Deals can be reached that benefit the owner and the state.
We have those here that bring up an original clause that was soon taken away. Without Eminent Domain the entire East Coast would be owned by 1000 people.
Exactly.
I have often thought about how I would feel, and what I would think, if the gov’t wanted to Eminent Domain ME. I’ve put 30 years into my shop, my lab... There’s no good way to value that, because I don’t think I’ll be around long enough to recreate it, even if the gov’t gave me a more-than-fair price based on market value of my place. Plus, I’d be “down”, unable to earn and do what I love, until I could get mostly rebuilt.
But on the other hand, if my land was “forcibly sold” for a shopping center or such, Lord knows, the area could use the economic development.
Well, I just watched “The Wrath of Kahn” (again) this afternoon. Ultimately, I think I’d accept getting the most money I could wring out of the place, and the thought that in such a case, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”
Maybe I’d end up with enough money to buy a place with a nice pond & stock it.... :-)