It's war.
This is a dark day for America. Government now has the right to steal your property at will for whatever reason it wants. And now private corporations are party to the land grab. Somehow, I doubt if you had pitched this idea to our founding fathers they would think such government seizures are a good idea, much less Constitutional ideas.
Well, it's clear that the "STATISTS" are a majority.
Irony--they're all notorious lefties except Kennedy, who's a "closet" lefty--more an more looking like he's dispossesed of common sense.
This sux beyond belief.
Why on earth is that 2/3 value such a consistent abuse of the victimized homeowner? Simple answer, if you hire a lawyer, you pay 1/3 of any amount achieved by sale or settlement to the lawyer (who may NOT get you the full value and certainly won't get you more than full value).
The government takes your property right away, leaving payment amount to be determined by settlement or suit and you either accept 2/3 or wait three or four years of litigation to obtain, at best, the full value but have to pay 1/3 to the lawyer plus costs. You also lose the time value of the money. Imposing embarassment on those few officials capable of embarassment puts nothing in your pocket. Five judges of SCOTUS: Stevens, Souter, KENNEDY (who betrayed the babies), Ginsberg and Breyer have created a constitutional growth industry for gummint corrupters public and private. This was too much even for Sandy Baby. Next vacancy is Rehnquist who voted the right way so there will be no relief there.
Souter, the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks George H.W. Bush.
Disgusting.
"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random," O'Connor wrote. "The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms."This is true of every government power. The Framer's weren't stupid. The only question either opinion should have addressed is what they meant by public use.
OK. I'll admit to being a bit slow here. How does that differ from what we already have. If my state wants to build a highway and needs your land, they buy it and build the road. That's already happening. How is this different?
This is incredibly wrong. What could these justices be thinking??
I don't understand how this is covered by the Fifth Amendment. Unless any American citizen will be entitled to occupy and use that property, subject only to rules which are applicable to everyone regarding its use, then it's being seized for private use.
"Nothing is ours, which another may deprive us of." --Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 1786. ME 5:440
"The first foundations of the social compact would be broken up were we definitely to refuse to its members the protection of their persons and property while in their lawful pursuits." --Thomas Jefferson to James Maury, 1812. ME 13:145
"The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence." --John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can." --Samuel Adams (1722-1803), was known as the "Father of the American Revolution."
"[A]ll power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty and the right of acquiring property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their government whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purpose of its institution." --James Madison (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President
"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend on God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die." --George Washington (1732-1799) Founding Father, 1st US President, 'Father of the Country'
Because they've debased the currency, your money is no longer good enough.
Now the guvmint wants your real assets.
Looks like a shooting war is on the way.
The guvmint buildings in DC would make great condos.
BUMP
Well, I bet there are some pretty nice waterfront locations on Long Island and Marth's Vineyard that would make lovely resort hotels that would bring in lots of tax dollars.
How do I form my own city? hummmmm.
Time for peasants with pitchforks.
Impeach the Supreme Court.
Term limit the Men in Black (and that goes for you, RBG!!!)
But please don't mess with a snail darter's (whatever that is)habitat.
The flies in the face of the DUmmieland belief that it is the conservatives who are the Fascists. It was clearly the Fascists (read liberal lefties) who did this.
This is basically a declaration of war against private property. Any and all property may be taken to give the property to a corporation, person of influence, or for any other reason so long as the government can say it is for economic reasons.
"Eminient domain" is now defined as economic or tax purposes, not rights of way.