Posted on 06/24/2005 1:59:58 AM PDT by ovrtaxt
The Supreme Court yesterday said cities can seize people's homes or businesses to make way for private commercial development such as shopping malls, a far-reaching ruling decried by property rights advocates.
By a 5-4 vote, the justices for the first time said governments can take private property and give it to developers citing eminent domain, a practice historically used for public highway projects.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Well stated.
What confidence can you have that new words in the Constitution would be honored any more than the words in the Constitution are now?
Is anyone opposing Bennett in the 2006 Primary?
Seizure of A's property to give to B by the government.
Left wing kooks building case law for redistribution of property.
As a practical matter, it would have to be taxable and that would mean voluntary inventories except in the case of what they can discover in bank accounts or anything bought on credit or debit cards. The local gov'ts would probably not have the resources to track down transactions in such detail. A sales tax is about all they can muster, although they try luxury taxes sometimes.
Until 2008?....DARN!
FL senators normally serve a four year term...except when a two year term for senators occurs in the first election following the ten year census, and affects odd numbered districts (at least this one did).
If that doesn't make your head spin, nothing will.
Courts tend to back off when faced with public outcry AND congressional action.
Congress could kill this now if it wanted to.
What do you suggest?
If you live in a state with a personal property tax as I do, they gotcha!
I don't, except the real estate tax. I have, though. It is amazing that they can tax personal property other than real estate. I don't think that is in line with the American spirit, although it is apparently okay in England.
You aren't serious are you? Congress favors its own constitutional corruption. Those seeking elected office offer the citizen favors from the public treasury in exchange for their vote. The citizen display their approval of the constitutional corruption by electing those who will provide them unconstitutional benefits from the public treasury.
What do you suggest?
I would offer a few suggestions but it would be impractical to suggest how to implement them. I would repeal the 16th and 17th amendment to the Constitution. I would arrange for run-off presidential elections. But most important I would appoint a Supreme Court who shared Jefferson's appreciation of our Constitution.
"On every question of construction [of the Constitution], let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invent against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." - Thomas Jefferson
However, in reality I am a cynic and I see myself agreeing with the words of an author whose name I cannot recall. "It's to late to use the system and it's to early to just shoot the bastards". There is nothing than can be suggested; it is to late; the vision of the Constitution ended with the 16th and 17th amendment.
We know all that - but since it's too early to start shooting the bastards - we'll just have to work the system or sit around and kvetch.
Check out this petition site:
http://www.petitiononline.com/5amend/petition-sign.html
An email correspondent's comment:
"FOLKS: This past week, SCOTUS (Supreme Court OF The United States) once again, has attempted to rewrite OUR Constitution to totally change the original intent as written by the Founders.
Eminent Domain was NEVER intended to be used by government EXCEPT to obtain property for roads, public buildings, schools, military bases and other necessary government usage.
This past week, the Supreme Court rewrote the Constitution, stating that it was legal for cities to condemn private property under Eminent Domain, to purchase and then resell to developers and other special interests, supposedly to benefit the community and the city by increasing tax revenues.
THIS IS TOTALLY BOGUS!
Please click on the link below and add your signature to the petition for a Constitutional Amendment to put a stop to this invitation to even more corruption within government and the theft of private homes and property for the financial benefit of a few.
http://www.petitiononline.com/5amend/petition-sign.html"
Got another one for ya!
Your community fails EPA clean air standards.
To avoid paying fines and to clean up the air, community leaders decide to condemn and confiscate vehicles that they believe are causing dirty air. After all, it is for the common good, lower taxes and clean air.
That is exactly what happened in this town! And is happening.
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