The Supreme Court ruled today that encouraging economic development by seizing one private individual's property and handing it over to a second private individual was a Constitutionally valid interpretation of the 5th Amendment's takings clause.
Local officials, not federal judges, know best in deciding whether a development project will benefit the community, justices said. Incredible statement. Where have these justices been? Local officials always side with developers. Well, nearly always.
Sandra Day O'Connor, speaking for the minorty said this:
The effect of the decision, "is to wash out any distinction between private and public use of property -- and thereby effectively to delete the words "for public use" from the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment."
Holy cow! Eminent Domain, which was always interpreted as the govenment taking personal property for the public good, for the building of roads or railways, with just compensation, is now interpreted as being ok for the financial gain of developers. The seizing of property for the building of malls, minor league baseball stadiums, Home Depots, etc. has the possibility of being standard operating procedure in local municipal circles. Be prepared, the toughest fight will be the first, after that, we will all be immune to the outrageousness of kind of act. Unbelieveable. Via The Chicago Boyz
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