LAND FIGHT HITS HOME FOR JUSTICE (Libertarians to seize USSC Breyer's vacation home for park)

NY POST ^ | July 30, 2005 | AP

[Liz]

PLAINFIELD, N.H. — Libertarians upset about a Supreme Court ruling on taking land have proposed seizing a justice's vacation home and turning it into a park.

Signatures are being collected for a petition to ask the town to use Justice Stephen Breyer's 167-acre Plainfield, N.H., property to create a "Constitution Park" with stone monuments to commemorate the U.S. and New Hampshire constitutions, said party Vice Chairman Mike Lorrey.

...........Lorrey told the Valley News. "This is a way of saying, 'You're going to be held to your own standard.' "

Lorrey said the Libertarian petition would place the land-taking request before a town meeting next spring. But Plainfield Town Administrator Steve Halleran said yesterday that he didn't expect voters to support the effort.

The Libertarian Party objects to the high court's June ruling that let New London, Conn., take land by eminent domain and turn it over to a private developer.

Breyer supported the decision, as did Justice David Souter. Earlier this month, a member of the libertarian Free State Project suggested that the town of Weare, about 45 miles southeast of Plainfield, make Souter's home into a "Lost Liberty Hotel."

The Supreme Court's 5-4 court ruling said municipalities have broad power to bulldoze people's homes and put up shopping malls or other private development to generate tax revenue.

[Pride in the USA]

It is thrilling to see people take a stand against this outrageous ruling. I do think this latest challenge will have a better chance for success if the proposal is to seize . . . oops, I mean "buy" the land for a commercial venture that generates tax revenue.

[Liz]

To suggest, as the majority USSC did, that crooked politicians in league with developers (their campaign financiers) would make objective decisions that benefit the citizenry---instead of themselves----is an outrage.

[Liz]

Thanks for the link. Nice find.

[traviskicks]

The Libertarians are doing this. Where is the 'republican' party?

[LRS]

Good question.

While I wouldn't expect the Repubs to offically engage in a "stunt" like this, I do think they should be out pounding away at this truly horrible SCOTUS decision.

When I first stopped being a 1960's leftover doped out hippie around 1980, I couldn't quite get myself to get behind the Repubs, even with Reagan at the helm, because of things like this, so I voted LP. They do have some ideas I still appreciate, and this is one of them. While it has a "stunt" appearance to it, it may be the only way to get this decision overturned. There is a move on to try and get the Supremes to reconsider Kelo, and if only one of the 5 can be convinced how truly awful the decision was, even if by a "stunt", then BRAVO. I won't hold my breath, but at least the LP's are trying something!

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[GoodWithBarbarians JustForKaos]

"Arguing for a park seems to me quixotic at best."

You have a good point, but being named "Constitution" Park does it for me!

Gotta love it, Constitution Park on an anti-Constitution judge's ex-property!

[Tunehead54]

They would make a better case if they wanted a hotel

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Right! Plus with 167 acres throw in a golf course - 50/50 memberships for dues to the council ought to outweigh his property taxes - he prolly has two cows so he can claim it as an agricultural concern and also write it off on his 1040 as 99% business expense. Anyone want to bet? ;-) Nite Nite!