LOL! Me too!!!!! 
Posted on 09/12/2006 1:56:42 AM PDT by goldstategop
The city of Cooper City, Fla., has given itself the power to seize residents' personal property in times of emergency.
Officials deemed this new law necessary because of what is expected to be a busy hurricane season.
But don't worry, they say. The law would never be enforced unless there were no other options – presumably meaning that the city could not persuade private citizens to permit the government to borrow, rent or buy their equipment.
Think of it as eminent domain for generators, power tools, trucks and anything else local czars determine they need.
Not surprisingly, this plan has met with some resistance.
''These people, with their mindset, should be arrested and put in jail for even attempting to do something like this,'' said Tim Wilder, a mobile mechanic who owns emergency tools and equipment.
While Commissioner Elliot Kleiman acknowledged that such a law is subject to abuse, he explained, ''but it's not going to happen here.''
Wouldn't that make you feel better?
You see, tyrants and dictators always believe they will be benevolent – that they would do the right thing in all circumstances. Few people run for office or seek power believing they cannot be trusted. They almost all trust themselves.
However, if we could trust people in power, we wouldn't need the safeguards we have in America to keep them in check, to limit their authority, to restrict their actions, to maintain the rule of law rather than the rule of men.
What's happening in Cooper City is not unusual. Unfortunately it is happening all over the country. It's happening in local governments. It's happening n state governments. And it's happening at the federal level.
That's why this is worth talking about – worth thinking about, worth praying about and worth fighting with all of our American resolve for independence and liberty and individual freedom.
It's easy for government to respect civil rights in the best of times. The challenge is for government to respect them in the worst of times. And few rights are as foundational as property rights.
That's why I agree with Mr. Wilder. That's the theory behind our rights. But what about the pragmatic implications of seizure laws like this? Are they really effective? Or are they, in fact, counterproductive to saving lives and property in times of emergency?
Think about this.
The best emergency scenario is that people themselves are prepared. Even the most well-equipped, efficient, resourceful and powerful government in the world can't take care of everyone's needs in an emergency.
Does a law like the one approved in Cooper City encourage people to prepare for emergencies? Or does it discourage them?
Most of the adamant objections to the law come from people who are prepared – people who make preparedness a way of life, people who even make a living investing in and operating emergency equipment.
Are these not the very people we need during times of emergency? Isn't it better to encourage people to do just what these folks are doing? Isn't it better for all concerned if we don't discourage people from making those investments and maintaining those businesses? Would any city or state want to drive these people out of their jurisdictions by raising fears of confiscation of their property and livelihoods?
Furthermore, why would other private citizens knowingly invest their own dollars and cents in preparing when city officials are giving them the impression that their neighbor's equipment will be seized by government to rescue them?
It's just one more example of a law that makes people more dependent on government – never a good idea in times of emergency.
You want to hear the real kicker? The Cooper City law, as with so many others like it, would allow officials to prohibit possession of firearms in times of emergency and close any public gathering place.
There go the First and Second Amendments as well as the Third, Fourth and Fifth in one fell swoop.
Is there any point in owning anything any more? Or, maybe a better question would be: Does anyone, besides government, really own anything any more?
I know, I'll disavow the statement if you like however the rest you will have to work out with my attorney. ; )
I've already pointed out two examples of abuse of confiscation by cops in Louisiana.
A bad law might be on the books for years until crooked officials emerge to take advantage of it.
I wouldn't think there would be a problem regarding the government paid the owner to repair any damage caused by the government breaking in and the price for the equipment taken. Of course the government would then have to be responsible to secure the building as well against anyone taking advantage of it's forced entry.
The reality is that the law protects the citizen from a crooked official because it specifically states that the citizen will be compensated.
The problem is the law is just ripe for abuse.
Who determines that their is an emergency?
Who determines when that emergency is over?
Who determines what property can be seized?
Who determines how the seized property is to be "redistributed"?
What mechanism's exist to track the seizure of property?
How is the property owner informed of th seizure of his assets if he is not present?
Anyway you cut it, this law stinks to high heavens. It shouldn't even be considered in America. Even in an emergency the rights of individual citizens should be tantamount.
:^)
Both. Crooked politicians take advantage of bad laws. This is why the Constitution was designed to limit the power of government.
The reality is that the law protects the citizen from a crooked official because it specifically states that the citizen will be compensated.
That's not reality, that's your legal theory. The reality is that it often isn't practical for citizens to recover from government abuse. I could cite multiple abuses of eminent domain, criminal forfeiture or New Orleans cops illegally seizing guns during emergencies. We can't trust them -- that's reality . We shouldn't be giving these people new laws to justify their thieving.
Big Brother's already been there, done that (leftist/socialist activist judges and anti-Christian legislators). Terri Shiavo comes immediately to mind... but there are more less-publicized instances throughout the country.
When the next 'emergency situation' occurs (just a matter of time), if the government 'thinks' it's going to take away my guns (as a female living alone, my ONLY protection from the thugs and criminals the leftists have released back on the streets by the thousands)...the government has another 'think' coming. I'll do whatever is necessary to retain and continue to possess my only protection from the criminal element that government has failed to control or to curtail (witness the looting and mayhem in New Orleans, while NO cops stood by either watching or helping).
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Sooner or later, this government will manage to make criminals of us all, to one degree or another. This kind of news is just more confirmation of that eventuality.
___
Next Big Brother will decide he wants to take your life.
Just cause it's illegal, doesn't mean that it couldn't or wouldn't happen. It happened in New Orleans. It could happen here in Texas too. Only difference is, here in Texas, somebody on the side of the 'firearm confiscators/takers' would get shot.
___
Now, the part about confiscating personal firearms IS illegal (proven by court cases in New Orleans).
Beg Pardon.
You Are Absolutly,Positivly 100% Correct !!!!
I wonder if owning property is going to be a good investment over the long haul as we seem to be steadily sliding ever so slowly into socialism.
It's one defeat after the next for property owners.
-the supreme court rulings on land taking
-the ever increasing zoning restrictions
-the DNR
-the excessive taxes that turn us into renters of our own property
whatever
The reality of life contradicts your lofty ideals.
Most understand that this is beneficial and, in spite of the fact that it may-could-might be exploited, would support it.
You point to isolated events of exploitation even without such a law. On the other hand, there are vastly more examples of individuals volunteering their property,money, and time to help others.
LOL! Me too!!!!!
The examples I point out are a small sample of the abuses that are happening now. Abuse of eminent domain has become rampant. There are videos of dozens of instances of police confiscating any cash on people they stop for little or no good reason.
On the other hand, there are vastly more examples of individuals volunteering their property,money, and time to help others.
Yes, that's a good thing. And since there are so many examples of private charity, why do we need laws to mandate it? When you are forced to "help others" that is a bad thing. That's the kind of socialist ideology that fails. You need to have more faith in your fellow man and less confidence in your government.
Would you spend the money on a generator, large stocks of food, etc. for your own family, when they may just be taken from you "for the public good?" And what good does compensation do in an emergency?
"File your claim with the county office, and you should hear something back from them in 6 to 8 weeks. Until then, good luck."
Socialists everywhere, it's depressing.
Yep.
Faced with the fact that, in Katrina, Walmart gave the keys to LEOs asking that they only leave a note for what they took, you have nothing to stand on.
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