Eminent Domain

[Orion_70]

Looks like the Supreme Court ruled that people's homes can be taken just to improve the tax base.... I really think they messed up this decision.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/23/scotus.property.ap/index.html

[Andrea]

Eminent domain is one of the DUMBEST laws ever written. It's un-American.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

I totally agree. This decision establishes the precedent that a government entity can seize your private property for virtually any reason (or for no reason) it chooses. Previously, they had to demonstrate that is was necessary for the "public good".

Here's a good example of how this can be applied.
Let's say I own 200 acres of farm and timber land next to a small city. The city expands their limits out to cover my property. The land all around me is large warehouses and manufacturing facilities. The city can only tax my property at the agricultural rate as it sits now, say about $1500 per year. So what do they do? They condem and take my land, paying me whatever they think "fair market value" is, then turn around and sell that land to some company that comes in and builds another warehouse or factory. Now the city can tax that property at the business rate, say $30,000 per year. Not to mention the profit they'll likely make from the initial sale of the land.

Mark my words, this WILL start happening. All it takes is a government being run by those who don't care about personal property rights and who want to expand the tax base as quickly as possibly. Hum... Sounds like the definition of a liberal to me.

[johnf]

I think it has it's place, but this is not it.

[Orion_70]

I totally Agree Texan...
Another example... Joe Schmo lives in a small older community (homes ranging around 150k) that in recent years had a much larger Gated community built in very close proximity to it (homes ranging about 1.5m). This older community is on the outskirts of acreage that is owned by a developer, the same one who owns the Gated community. This developer decides that he should build a golf course but needs to be rid of the homes beside his prime property, after all the tax on a 150k house is only 800-1200 or so a year while you can tax the 1.5m homes at 15-20k a year, not to mention the tax value added from the impact fees of these new homes...So the developer pressures the local gov't to condemn those houses so new larger and more expensive houses can be built, along with a golf course... sound far fetched?... not with this ruling

[andymansavage]

A very scary day for sure, but it can be fought on a state by state basis, get on the phone to your reps before it's too late.
Andy

[ParrotHead]

I think that at some point in time, some or most of us will start feeling the violations of the government that the Native Indians felt.

But who knows, maybe they'll supply us all the booze we want and give us a Casino to keep us drunk and happy.

For anyone that still has reservations that our government isn't in the "take over and rule the citizenship" mode - this should slap you back to reality.

[David_218]

[ QUOTE ]
Eminent domain is one of the DUMBEST laws ever written. It's un-American.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's NOT "Eminent Domain" BUT rather "Government Imposed Socialism. Folks, we're lossing our country to a handfull of individuals that we didn't vote for. I feel sorry for the youngsters growing up today. They'll never know the freedoms we know. Is THIS The United State Of America? http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[MagnusBro]

Thanks for the post, I was hoping to find one today when I heard the news story. Glad to see some like minded people talking about it. When I heard about this it freaked me out, I just sat there in disbelief. If this doesen't make the founding fathers roll over nothing will. When are we going to rein in the judicial branch and say read the constitution! well to quote my president " you can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands" I think that this is appropriate for my home as well!!

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

[ QUOTE ]
A very scary day for sure, but it can be fought on a state by state basis, get on the phone to your reps before it's too late.
Andy

[/ QUOTE ]

No it can't be fought, at least not without amending the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the final say, and they aren't accountable. That's the problem with having an activist court that legislates from the bench. That's also why it's so important for President Bush to get as many of his judicial nominees voted on by the Senate as possible. Hopefully the people he has nominated will stop some of this foolishness.

[David_218]

This is one of the reasons the colonists left England and formed this great nation. They also gave us the second ammendment. To defend ourselves against a tyrantical government.

[wtnhunt]

Bad decision for sure.

[ QUOTE ]
That's also why it's so important for President Bush to get as many of his judicial nominees voted on by the Senate as possible. Hopefully the people he has nominated will stop some of this foolishness.

[/ QUOTE ]

Could not agree more with what Texan says here.

[dg]

We need to worry more about China and India buying America instead of the govts eminent domain. I don't like the trend that's happening there.