Eminent Domain Abuse

[Feenix566]

(CBS) If you're a homeowner standing in your yard, you probably think this land is your land.

But it may not stay your land if your local government wants somebody else to have it.

The concept, known as "eminent domain," is the focus of a Supreme Court showdown, with some property owners saying that the practice is being abused. CBS News Correspondent Joie Chen reports in the cover story of CBS News This Morning.From the front steps of her 100-year-old cottage, Susette Kelo has a clear view of Long Island Sound. But maybe not for long.

"I don't want to sell it. It's a beautiful house, it's paid for, we want to stay here," she tells Chen.

Kelo's hometown, New London, Conn., says it wants to make way for the future in that corner of the past: offices, hotels and fancy condos are envisioned for Kelo's neighborhood.

But Kelo, a registered nurse who works three jobs to make ends meet, says, early on, it was clear she and her family weren't part of the picture: "We weren't the right type of people. …They said they wanted to create a hip little city. And to us hip -- or to me -- hip meant higher income people. …Not me."

That's why Kelo has traveled to the U.S. Supreme Court.

...

"Eminent domain for private development," Berliner charges, "is a legalized theft. It's legal in the sense that there's not outright bribery going on. But it's still taking someone's home away involuntarily for another private party who is more politically connected. It's still wrong."

Berliner documented more than 10,000 cases in 41 states over five years where eminent domain has been threatened or used to benefit private development.

For instance: Atlantic City, N.J., where in 1998, a public agency tried to take the home of elderly widow Vera Coking to provide limousine parking for billionaire Donald Trump's casino.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in678427.shtml

The government is taking land from one private owner and giving it to another private owner! And all in the name of "progress". This is rediculous. 90% of America is open space, and yet these private developers can't seem to find a spot to develop on?

[ironwest]

I would prefer to live in a country where when I buy the land, it is mine and nobody can take it away or force me to pay tax on it. I would pay for policy and fire fighters per incidents charge, or even a monthly charge with the option to deny the service. If my kid needs to go to school, I will pay whatever it costs, if the income tax does not cover basic education.

Is there such a place in civilized world ?

[I don't know]

There are some cases where I'm for "loosening up" the private property rule. They have a system in Amsterdam, I think, where whenever a building has stood empty long enough, it becomes legal to occupy it.

A law supposedly brought on by the fact that people let old, protected buildings stand until they become old and hazardous. So they can tear them down and make parking lots plus the fact that the hollenders need their space.

[86Dude]

I have a bad feeling the Supreme Court is going to rule for the cities, but that doesn't mean the ruling is correct. Burns me up.

[Red]

the city took my neighbors house away and is turning it into a gas station and quick check. they stuck his home in a 'redevelopment zone' even though it was up to city code. ****ing bastards. that's some scary ****.

[Malcolm Wright]

Originally Posted by Feenix566

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in678427.shtml

The government is taking land from one private owner and giving it to another private owner! And all in the name of "progress". This is rediculous. 90% of America is open space, and yet these private developers can't seem to find a spot to develop on?

America is corrupt.
A classic example of government making the rules work for he holds the most green.

M.

[Feenix566]

I really hope the Supmreme Court rules in favor of the land owners here.

I reject the notion that all land belongs to the government and we're all just renting it.

[CYLLON]

if they dont its literally time to excersise the 2nd amendment and make the tyranys in black robs and the greedy land theives pay with their lives.

[302Riz]

Horrifying that the government would participate in such activities.

[Joe]

I also agree that land owners should in fact be owners of thier land.

[Cd.]

Owning your own home you may already know that the government can screw you nine ways to sunday and there is noting you can do about it. For instance, if you are in a dispute with someone and they decide to report you for building code violations, and inspector has the right to go inside your home and look to his or her hearts content and there is nothing you can do about it.

Being a homeowner sucks.

[Feenix566]

Originally Posted by CYLLON

if they dont its literally time to excersise the 2nd amendment and make the tyranys in black robs and the greedy land theives pay with their lives.

I hope the FBI doesn't read that and start listening in on your phone conversations. But I do believe that is pricesely why the founding fathers included the second amendment; just in case the government ever got totally out of hand.