Posted on 11/09/2009 11:10:07 AM PST by theruleshavechanged
The private homes New London, Conn., took through eminent domain from Suzette Kelo and others, are torn down now, but Pfizer has just announced that it closing up shop at the research facility that led to the condemnation.
Leading drugmakers Pfizer and Wyeth have merged, and as a result, are trimming some jobs. That includes axing the 1,400 jobs at their sparkling new research & development facility in New London, and moving some across the river to Groton.
To lure those jobs to New London a decade ago, the local government promised to demolish the older residential neighborhood adjacent to the land Pfizer was buying for next-to-nothing. Suzette Kelo fought the taking to the Supreme Court, and lost, as five justices said this redvelopment met the constitutional hurdle of "public use."
Ms. Kelo and many others lost their home, but the land is still undeveloped. Now Pfizer is abandoning the city altogether.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Tyranny.
Astonishing. They should be made to raze their facility and put new homes back on the block.
Very sorry about the homeowners but in losing the profit center, taxes from both the homes and the pharma facility, New London is reaping what it sowed I hope.
The power to tax is the power to destroy.
Our founding fathers never intended our government to be run in such manner.
Can't anyone write English?
What’s the problem with that English?
The whole thing makes me sick. Few Americans could ever think this was appropriate from the git-go.
How about that tax revenue? How’s that working out for you, city council a’holes?
A ‘breath comma’ and a missing ‘is’.
They obviously had plans under their Whigs.
I know, the Whigs were later, but it was just too tempting. The Whigs were big players in eminent domain for the benefit of barge and canal companies and (later) railroads. Lincoln made his name as an Illinois lawyer doing such deals.
So you believe everyone should hav ethe right to charge for passage on the public streets - or perhaps there should be no public streets?
It’s awkward, but correct.
New London took the houses, so “the houses New London took” is correct.
took s/b taken
it s/b it is or it’s
Don’t challenge the GRAMMAR NAZI’s ... the first while not precise, is acceptable and the 2nd needs an ‘s ...
BIG EFFING DEAL... the USA is not going to fall apart because of a lousy apostrophe.
Now the GRAMMAR NAZI’s will be correcting this.
/sarc
Taking property with just compensation is needed for roads, utilities, schools and such is reasonable. Beyond that, I would disagree with any taking, but there might be some others, such as takings for national security purposes.
A disgusting abuse of power.
Shame on the Supremes that voted for this crime.
Paging that NH, Bush accolade idiot Suter. Leftist Bullcrap, Islamic death to America.
building roads
It's criminal.
In a just world, all involved - from the SC justices who allowed this to the local pols to Pfizer - would be treated as the criminals they are.
That’s “GRAMMAR NAZIS”... plural, not possessive...no apostrophe
“Hartford vs. Kelo” is quite possibly the worst and most unconstitutional supreme court decision made to date.
The guilty “justices” are as follows:
Stevens
Kennedy
Souter
Ginsburg
Breyer
I just e-mailed this to some liberal friends who were PO’ed about the Kelo ruling. I have been using this as an example of the differences between pure capitalism and corporatism. Under pure capitalism, the developer and the homeowners would have had to reach a mutually agreeable price for the exchange. If such a price could not be arrived at, or the homeowner did not want to sell anyway, well that’s just tough for the developer - no deal. Under coporatism, the strong arm of the state is used. And in the end it’s like a deal with the devil, where the state looks for some payback (conditions, requirements, etc.) else the state would turn on the developer. I believe Mussolini used the term corporatism to descibe his fascism. Not to far away is socialism/communism, where the state descides to confiscate all property anyway.
looks like the author fixed it. . . I imagine he was in a hurry to get it out though. . .
Psst, hey, Supremes, this is why the Founders wrote the Contstitution and Bill of Rights, to restrain government and keep abuses like this from happening. You decided this one wrong, learn from it, please.
I think it’s funny in a way... not for the homeowners who were screwed out of their houses, but on the Town Officials who are now stuck with abandoned property and no more tax revenue from that location. It’ll be a great talking point in the next election, especially against those who may have favored the eminent domain action.
Better - Raze the homes of the politicians, Lawyers and Pfizer management.
That’s “GRAMMAR NAZIS”... plural, not possessive...no apostrophe
DUH!!!
Don’t forget the legal bill the city councel spent to walk this case to the supremes, plus any other incentives (tax off sets) they offered Pfizer to make this deal doable. Now they got zip - no tax base, no citizens - no jobs. Conn, it sucks to be you.
...and of five supreme court “justices”.
Pfizer really popped a boner this time
Yes, they were.
They knew roads, bridges and other public accomodations would have to be built, and provided for a just method for doing so.
It’s the current extension of “public” that’s become the problem, much the way “inter-state commerce” now means “all commerce, even when it isn’t commerce”.
We are the fault, not Our Constitution.
This is why it is technically unconstitutional for gov to take land from property owners. This was a horrible decision by SCOTUS and now it is clearly apparent why. Look for eminent domain SCOTUS challenge based on this horrible outcome!
Yes, I think roads should be privatized.
Abandon not hope. Phyrric victories still count for something, as does ongoing public resentment. The property in question was acquired at great cost; though that battle was won, the price may still discourage many from repeating such an action. The property having been acquired to great public scorn, they hesitated to use it lest anything of value built thereon be a target for increasing & active resentment.
Though the Kelo decision was won, the win was abandoned.
Consent of the governed still holds sway.
Excellent! SCOTUS took land from private citizens so the land could remain empty and supply no new taxes for the city. I like it!
Yeah, just insofar as you’re willing to take the minimum amount the fascists are willing to offer. Otherwise you’ll be dragged off by armed thugs for daring to defy the state and exercise your free will.
I would never deign to correct someone so proficient with the caps lock key.
Suck on it and die, you parasite bastards.
See too, Poletown.
Poletown was reversed by SCOTUS a few years ago.
Far to late to make a difference to the residents, but it made a good point.
Members of my family lost a few houses in that.
SueRae for Congress.
Couldn’t have said it better, myself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.