Posted on 03/14/2005 1:20:52 PM PST by softengine
The Supreme Court is hearing a case that will affect the property rights of us all. The city of New London, Connecticut wants to condemn some private property so that private developers can build an office facility. The city claims it has the right to take property under eminent domain for the sole purpose of increasing tax revenue.
Justice O’Connor asked the city attorney, “If a city wanted to size property in order to turn a Motel 6 intro a Ritz-Carlton, would that be OK?” The city’s response, “Yes, it would be.”
Believe it or not, there are 10,000 cases in America every year where private property is taken, either by being condemned or by the threat of being condemned, and then turned over to private developers.
But the principle of private property is founded on the principle that property belongs to someone, not the government. When powerful interests have the power to use the government to take property away for the “greater good” of us all, what rights are protected?
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the city, look out! The floodgates will open and state and local governments will be free to take private property and give it to someone else. The government will be able to do what it wants with your property for the “greater good” of others.
This forces all of us to ask:
Several thousand years ago, the Prophet Ezekiel wrote, “I do not want any of my people unjustly evicted from their property” (Ezekiel 46:18 NLT). The Supreme Court is about to decide if such evection will become the law of the land.
This is a nightmare. America is a bastion of freedom, a capitalistic country whose value is great in the eyes of many. Doing something as drastic as revoking our right to public property is a terrible terrible blow to our image. It's one step closer to the socialistic liberal government styles of western Europe, and I want nothing of it.
This is a nightmare. America is a bastion of freedom, a capitalistic country whose value is great in the eyes of many. Doing something as drastic as revoking our right to public property is a terrible terrible blow to our image. It's one step closer to the socialistic liberal government styles of western Europe, and I want nothing of it.
bump
I pray that the supremes respect property rigths.
This case is even more important to 'we the people' than the issue of the death penalty for under eighteen year olds. The concept of eminent domain was never intended to be used as New London is proposing. The original concept was to insure right-of-way acquisition for streets, bridges, and other public works, not for new office buildings.
Nowadays who knows! I cant believe it is even in front of them! And with this court I would never bet anything on them
With questions and answers like this, "Justice O’Connor asked the city attorney, 'If a city wanted to size property in order to turn a Motel 6 intro a Ritz-Carlton, would that be OK?' The city’s response, 'Yes, it would be.'" it looks like the city will be losing this one.
It doesn't matter though. The idea of private property rights is a myth anyway. My property taxes now are far more than my house payment used to be just a few years ago. Nobody in the US privately owns real estate. You just get control of it for as long as you can pay the usage fees (taxes). A lot of poeple lost their property for just this reason during the depression.
It's a NICE myth though.
Half of Pittsburgh was rebuilt abusing emanate domain.
Anyone that actually believes that they own property in this country is completely wrong anyway. Stop paying you're property rent and men with machine guns will show up in short order to remove you.
These cases of reckless eminent domain are more than just a "slippery slope" to fiscal disaster. They threaten the very fabric of our country and the properly assumed patriotism of our citizens. Certainly, drastic denials of traditional rights of American citizens in the name of tax profits for local or state governments, already either incompetent or corrupt, will affect every citizen's loyalty and devotion to country.
There are a few, rare, cases of allodial land being owned in this country. But they're as rare as the word "allodial" is on national newscasts.
Let us pray that Our Robed Masters will allow us to keep real property.
Exactly.
That is why property taxes are the most heinous and immoral of all taxes.
Yup, property rights stopped once property, legally owned, could be taken for taxes.
Come to think of it we're not allowed to own much at all.
“If a city wanted to size property in order to turn a Motel 6 intro a Ritz-Carlton, would that be OK?”
huh?...
FMCDH(BITS)
"There are a few, rare, cases of allodial land being owned in this country. But they're as rare as the word "allodial" is on national newscasts."
You can get an allodial title to your property, most people just don't know how, including me. What about land patents?
So, why are we all here b!tching and not storming our legislatures DEMANDING they stop this? I intend to bug the hell out of my elected officials and a form letter won't get me to go away. The time for keyboard warriors is done. Now, we need to start taking action.
Might want to break out your farm/rights ping list for this one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.