Out-****ing-ragious!!!

[KRSESQ]

The Supreme Court has ruled it CONSTITUTIONAL for communities to use "Eminent Domain" to sieze land for private economic developement.

Right here.

This makes me so damned angry I could spit - on five Supreme Court Justices!

Kevin

[Dr Mordrid]

It was a 5-4 decision and would people, especially those of the liberal and so-called "moderate" persuasions, please note who formed the 5 vote majority that just hammered their property rights into the ground;

John Paul Stevens (liberal)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (liberal)
Stephen G. Breyer (liberal)
David H. Souter (liberal)
Anthony Kennedy (liberal-leaning swing vote)

4 liberals and 1 liberal-leaning swing vote. Once again the liberals prove they think everything that's yours is also theirs to do with as they see fit.

On the other side;

Chief Justice Rehnquist (conservative)
Antonin Scalia (conservative and likely the next Chief Justice)
Clarence Thomas (conservative)
Sandar Day O'Connor (conservative-leaning swing vote)

Welcome to one of the real reasons we need more strict constructionists on the Supreme Court. Abortion , flag burning etc. etc. are all a sideshow compared to issues such as these.

Dr. Mordrid

[Jon P. Inghram]

What's the problem? It's not your property anyway, it's the governments. I wonder how long until you have government enforced, manditory organ donations?

As quoted from Wikipedia:

The term fascism has come to mean any system of government resembling Mussolini's, that in various combinations:

* exalts nation and sometimes race above the individual.
* stresses loyalty to a single leader.
* uses violence and modern techniques of propaganda and censorship to forcibly suppress political opposition.
* engages in severe economic and social regimentation.
* engages in corporatism.
* implements totalitarianism.

[KvHagedorn]

This really pisses me off. And to think these traitors to their fellow citizens have the gall to take the name Justice. An insult to us all.

[Nowhere]

Yeah...objectivelly I would call what's happening in the US right now fascization (in the same manner I (and not only I...) call what was happening in Poland in the 30s fascization)

[cjolley]

There is a possibility though.
I know a little about this because of my job.
I think they ruled too much on the facts in this one case.
When they should have given a more general rule.
This ruling will be abused very quickly and they will have to reverse or clarify themselves pretty quickly.
Unfortunately, "pretty quickly" in Supreme Court terms means several years.

[Gurm]

There is a possibility though.
I know a little about this because of my job.
I think they ruled too much on the facts in this one case.
When they should have given a more general rule.
This ruling will be abused very quickly and they will have to reverse or clarify themselves pretty quickly.
Unfortunately, "pretty quickly" in Supreme Court terms means several years.

Yeah. They're going to wake up and go "no no we didn't mean that you could just take ANYONE'S land willy-nilly for anything you like..."

[Umfriend]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I don't agree with the concept of land-ownership. On the other, I feel that in this case it's just disadvantaging the little people on behalf of business.

[Gurm]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I don't agree with the concept of land-ownership. On the other, I feel that in this case it's just disadvantaging the little people on behalf of business.

Well see the problem is that in THIS SPECIFIC CASE it probably WAS in the public interest to sieze the land. I don't know the specifics but it DOES happen on occasion - the area has been rezoned commercial, they're trying to do major improvements, and there are a couple people who have been living there for 50+ years who just refuse to move.

On the other hand... it's their HOME. Y'know?

[GT98]

I have a perfect example of where this can be abused. There was a townhall meeting at this one shore resort town that I live about 20 minutes from. The "beachfront" is a mix of rentals, food/service stores and an occaional bar or two. The one bar was up for its licence to be renewed and the owner was worried that the town consoul wanted to start redeveloping the land in million dollar homes that are right next to beach, due to the developers having behind the door conversations with the town consoul as its been rumored. Anyways...the bar got its licenced renewed due the support of the local community, but I can see the town now using this to get their way and destroy alot of peoples livelyhood in the process.

Is there any recourse we can take though congress or something to get this over turned?

[Umfriend]

Well see the problem is that in THIS SPECIFIC CASE it probably WAS in the public interest to sieze the land. I don't know the specifics but it DOES happen on occasion - the area has been rezoned commercial, they're trying to do major improvements, and there are a couple people who have been living there for 50+ years who just refuse to move.

On the other hand... it's their HOME. Y'know?

My problem is that (I suspect) part of that public interest will flow to, or be internalised by, private parties.

[Dr Mordrid]

Much of the effect of this ruling was to turn over to the local and State legislatures the power to define how takings are to be done, so at least at those levels this can be affected by the people.

The vast majority of takings are done by local and state govenments and so they fall under local jurisdiction. Federal takings are very few and far between.

As such the effect here in Michigan will be nil since our State Supreme Court has held that the kind of taking done in this case is illegal in the state of Michigan.

As far as I know Michigan is the only, or one of a very few, states with such a ruling by its Supreme Court.

Dr. Mordrid

[KvHagedorn]

I remember some neighborhood in NW Detriot was supposedly destroyed to put in a shopping mall... did this spur the action you are talking about, Doc?

[KvHagedorn]

Is there any recourse we can take though congress or something to get this over turned?

Nothing short of armed resistance. That happened in 1776, you know. Too bad we are all just a bunch of wussies now.. and the government has weapons unavailable to the public. Still, remember the guy with the armored bulldozer who wiped out a bunch of businesses? Never underestimate a small businessman who has been wronged.

[cjolley]

...
Still, remember the guy with the armored bulldozer who wiped out a bunch of businesses? Never underestimate a small businessman who has been wronged.

He's dead Jim.
I don't think he won.
Unless you subscribe to the Cool Hand Luke School of Revolution.