[HarryCaul]

Lots of things have been done in the past that are bad ideas. Governments forcing land from one private owner to another is one of them.

Just because it was done before doesn't make it ok.

[Paleo Conservative]

Lots of things have been done in the past that are bad ideas. Governments forcing land from one private owner to another is one of them.

You didn't answer my question. It is impossible to build a road without taking land from someone. You should reread the constitution. The state is allowed to take private property for public uses but must compensate the original owner. There is plenty of precedent for governments to allow private companies to build roads. Where I have problems with misuse of eminent domain is where it is used to redevelop land for private purposes like building shopping centers.

[BobL]

See, I'm not the only who thinks this plan STINKS.

There is a lot of oppostion out there. I would advise those people to sharpen up their arguments, because the TTC's main supporter is about to booted out of the governor's mansion.

Look at the politics here. A Republican governor, who, by all other measures has been a good conservative, is fighting for his political life in the state of TEXAS (not exactly a blue state).

And the reason is: He is shoving this corridor plan down our throats, and, as others have so eloquently expressed, without giving a damm as to what we think.

Every state is entitled to make a mistake when they elect a governor. Tennessee did that with Sundquist (also a Republican) - he promised no income tax, and then promptly tried to shove one down on everyone. We ousted him.

Likewise here in Texas, Perry has attempted (but so far failed), to increase the cost for thousands of people of people just trying to commute to work (by at least a $1,000 per year), by converting a freeway (SH 249) into a toll road, but we stopped him (and he attempted it at least 2 other times last year, but was also stopped).

In fairness to Perry's oversensitive supporters out there, I'm being told that he now doesn't intend to convert our freeways to toll roads (at least for the time being), but I have yet to see that as an official TXDOT policy.

Maybe one of you guys can nudge Perry's shoulder and ask him to officially publish it.