High Court to homeowners: Stick 'em up!

Townhall.com ^ | 9/26/2005 | Paul Jacob

[sirthomasthemore]

It's like a bad dream...But this is real. We live under a regime that can...grab our homes...pays us what it thinks the property's worth, and then hands our property — in finely crafted "sweetheart deals" — to developers...

This is not an isolated case...[t]his is happening all across the nation. Local officials looking to boost their tax take through eminent domain like a vampire looks for fresh neck arteries....

Politicians' lust for money doesn't stop with homeowners and small businesses, though. Churches don't even pay taxes. No revenue stream for politicians at all. Uh-oh....

"We don't oppose churches," Council Chairman Samuel Dean told The Post. "The concern we have is that sometimes churches eat up a lot of land that could be used for other things." ..."None of us are against God." But added: "We're losing tax money and retail." ....

Don't be fooled.. In this case judicial restraint means a general increase in government power....

Certainly, the only meaningful public benefit is more tax dollars collected and spent by politicians. The public gets whatever trickle down benefits come of this government spending. Lucky us.....

They actively expand government power whenever citizens threaten to exert some control over it. And when governments kick John Q. Public in the teeth, the black robes stand aside, in "judicial restraint....."

It reminds us of the fact that while our judicial system has been hijacked, so too have our legislatures and city councils become dens of thieves...

. The Kelo decision tells us how predatory our government has become. The America Dream, cut into and carved up by so many politicians, was this week struck down by the courts. But we're not giving in to them. We must get it back.

[Noumenon]

Dont't wait for the confiscators to come to you. Go for the ones who sent them. That sends an unmistakeable message to those responsible: authorizing the confiscation of private property is dangerous, deadly and generally not survivable.

As an aside, I don't think that they've thought much about the fact that they'll be facing people who have nothing left to lose. That's the worst sort of enemy to have.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

You mean "King George" don't ya?

Yes, exactly.

[TXBSAFH]

I most sadly agree with you on this.

[sirthomasthemore]

Wally doesn't seize properties. Local governments do.

****************
Mewzilla,

Technically you're absolutely right. But when multi-million dollar corporations and developers wave millions of dollars in a local officials' face, people being people, their weakness often clouds their judgment and the responsible of their Office.

I'm sure you've seen that fact in your life, and certainly, here in what has been come to be known as "Corrupticut"; it's a fact of life. John Rowland, a real stand-up guy, got sucked in to the excesses of Office.

The solution of course is to watch your local officials. But, for the here and now, we'd better not lead these officials into the temptation that has been waved before them by this Devil's decision that gives local officials a "get out of corruption free" card.

This new interpretation of "public use" gives them a "legal" precedent and an affirmative defense to corruption. All the official has to prove is that a project raised tax revenue for the municipality. That's not a high bar to hurdle.


Clean your muskets and sharpen your pitchforks and get ready to ride to the sound of the guns.(KELO) :o}-

Dems, hello???

We could get out of Vietnam; we can’t GET OUT of terrorism.

[sirthomasthemore]

There are NO statesmen left..Not a one
*****************

hineybono,

You're right- but this is the current problem with the GOP. MOST GOP senators THINK they're statesmen. That's why the DEM down and dirty attack machine works, and the GOP is effectively neutered.

Our GOP "statesmen" feel it's beneath them to sully themselves in partisan battles. They do not fight tooth and nail for grassroot conservatives...and that's our current problem with the present composition of the GOP leadership.
Right now, I think what we see in this Court decision in the GOP's acquiescence to Big Government, where they should be on the side of those of us who put them in office.




Clean your muskets and sharpen your pitchforks and get ready to ride to the sound of the guns.(KELO) :o}-

Dems, hello???

We could get out of Vietnam; we can’t GET OUT of terrorism.

[sirthomasthemore]

I guess we need to reword mortgage signing papers to read, its yours until we find something better to do with it little man!
***********************

Force,

Understand your sentiment- we all feel the same way. But, we have to change our view now- we're not "little men"- we are the Americans that fight wars, pay taxes, and vote for these 500-600 elites.

We're under no obligation to "re-word" our mortgages. The 600 are under an obligation to uphold the "word" of our social contract with our Government- we willingly give out allegiance to America, and in turn, Government protects our rights as set forth in the Bill of Rights.

The Supreme Court and the other elites are currently repudiating their end of the bargain.




Clean your muskets and sharpen your pitchforks and get ready to ride to the sound of the guns.(KELO) :o}-

Dems, hello???

We could get out of Vietnam; we can’t GET OUT of terrorism.

[sirthomasthemore]

Any pol you ask says "It's horrible, horrible, harrumph", but I doubt any of them do anything about it.

John,

This decision completely changes AMerica. In this regard, we have to make certain that they do something about it- or we'll never be the same.



Clean your muskets and sharpen your pitchforks and get ready to ride to the sound of the guns.(KELO) :o}-

Dems, hello???

We could get out of Vietnam; we can’t GET OUT of terrorism.

[TheForceOfOne]

In all seriousness I couldn't agree more. Trying to keep my sanity in light of what has happened. Some people have stated it is a good thing that happened. I don't understand that opinion at all.

[Judith_knows]

This guy has it right.
Don’t be mislead. Today, the NY Post called it a “liberal land grab”-that’s obfuscation and an attempt to misdirect conservative anger. This WAS NOT a liberal decision, this was an ELITE decision. This was not a constitutional decision, it was a GOVERNING CLASS decision. Unless, we objectively recognize this coup d’etat of the US Constitution for what it was-( i.e. a bi-partisan governing/power elite “tyranizination” of the average citizen-) we will lose ourselves in the partisan rhetoric blame game.

This issue transcends paritisan politics. There exist a multiplicity of issues for which we can legitimately fault LIB/DEMS, ad infinitum- but this is not one. Souter, Kennedy, Stevens may be liberals, but they’re GOP nominees on the GOVERNMENT payroll.

----
Thanks for your most excellent post. I was a democrat until last Thursday. Now I am just an American. You are so right about this being an elite versus "us" thing. I feel very strongly that now is the time to put partisan stuff aside, or I fear our country will be stolen completely from us, as we bicker over stupid stuff like Rove's comments.

To anyone who feels like it will not happen to them, I just got word that a developer withdrew a bid on property in my area a couple of weeks ago. Said developer wanted to take 4 homes on one acre lots and turn them into 70+ townhomes. I live in a white, upscale Republican neighborhood in a desirable city. It's not blighted, urban, minority, waterfront, etc. It's just desirable and the tax base on 70 townhomes is more than four homes. I was thinking I was safe because who would want my neighborhood. Guess not. Time to band together. If there's a plan, count me in and please let me know how I can help. I am not a leader type, but I sure can pitch in and implement.

[RockyMtnMan]

Perhaps now "Republicans" will wake up and smell the burning constitution. The government is getting stronger by the day and the current administration seems quite content to let it continue.

We have rampant illegal invasion, massive new government entitlement programs, government confiscation of private property, no tax reform and on and on and on...

[sirthomasthemore]

Judith-Knows:

What is it precisely that you know???? :-)

Until one is actually involved, most don't comprehend the corruption that exists in the nexus of the judicial/executive and legislative branches and the power it wields over the individual. It's supposed to be checks and balances- but it's not. It's complicity and cooperation to achieve the ends of the governing class.

This Decision was about as transparent a manifestation of that nexus as could be imaginable.

Will the average Jane and Joe respond? Hope so.


Clean your muskets and sharpen your pitchforks and get ready to ride to the sound of the guns.(KELO) :o}-

Dems, hello??? We could get out of Vietnam; we can’t GET OUT of terrorism.