Do you agree with SCOTUS' decision to allow corporations to take property?

[UdoKier]

Poll question: Do you agree with SCOTUS' decision to allow corporations to take property?

Do you agree with the SCOTUS decision to allow corporations to use Eminent Domain to confiscate private property for for-profit ventures (ostensibly only when it's to help depressed economies :eyes: )?

[I Have A Dream]

1. How much do you want to bet that it never happens to rich people? n/t

[stopbush]

29. Please note!: The LIBERALS on the SCOTUS did this!!

O'Connor, Rehnquist, Scalia and Thomas voted AGAINST it.

A shameful day to be a supposed liberal.

[UdoKier]

38. So-called liberals

from this day forward, IMO.

[I Have A Dream]

39. I wasn't aware of the details yet.

:wtf:

[Megahurtz]

2. Fuck Corporations.

I hate them.:grr:

[jmaier]

3. You're actually misrepresenting the ruling

It allows local governments to invoke eminent domain for the "public benefit" expanding from for "public use". It does create dangerous opportunities for exploitation by bought and sold local governments but it also allows for other uses beyond purely economic.

No matter, I disagree with the ruling -- the existing eminent domain statutes seem more than adequate to me but we should be fair in our representations.

[JRob]

6. Wasn't the foundation of the case about a corp taking the land to

construct an office building?

[redqueen]

25. That's a beautiful pic.

Thanks. :)

[Walt Starr]

26. And it also means the following

Since there is a larger tax base in a more condesned population base, your current neighborhood can be seized in it's entirty and turned over to a developer to build condominiums because the tax base is larger than the existing homes, thus a "public benefit".

Property rights have officially been taken away from human beings and handed over to paper entities created by hot air.

[dmkinsey]

30. Right, also a case from Ohio

involving the city invoking eminent domain to purchase private homes so that the land could be sold to a DEVELOPER for condominiums.

[Throckmorton]

42. Yes, in the Fort Trumbull Neighborhood of New London, CT

Actually, a Hotel. What happened to my America? I want it Back!!!

I live just down the road from New London.

[UdoKier]

8. I don't think I misrepresented it at all.

I just boiled it down to its essence. The true meaning is that corps can use their considerable political clout to steal your, or my land. It's beyond appalling. I don't believe eminent domain should be used for for-profit ventures, period.

[JRob]

52. ...and only "for public benefit" in extreme situations

[napi21]

4. I'm torn on this one.

I grew up a little north of Pgh. Pa. and they were building "the East St. Expressway". There was ONE hold out, and it took 20 years in the courts to resolve the dispute! Yes, the expressway is finished...has been for quite a while now!

I think it's terribly wrong for the gov't to take someones property to accomodate a Walmart, a shopping mall, or a new condo complex, but I'm not sure where the line should be drawn!

[AllegroRondo]

9. An expressway is public use

and allowed by the constitution.

But taking land for 'public good' by selling it to developers is something else entirely.

[me b zola]

19. exactly

and that is why this case went to court. I saw a piece about this on the news awhile back. It was a retired family who didn't want to give up their home for a strip mall--A STRIP MALL:grr:

[JRob]

12. "public benefit" like schools, highways, parks etc. differ quite a bit

from a corp using their gov proxies to take land to build an office building...

[JRob]

5. This crap will continue to escalate until...

we collectively make a stand.

I get criticized for saying we need to refuse to participate in the economy even though we continue to see an assault on every aspect of our lives.

They're leaches sucking away more and more of what we have to feed their giant machine and world expansion. It will not stop.

It is time to send a message to Corporate American and their lap dogs in the WH and Congress.

THE BUCK STAYS HERE! In my wallet until...

[dsewell]

7. Hell Freezes Over!

DU and freepers agree on something:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1428902/posts

[UdoKier]

14. And yet, as usual, they don't QUITE get it...

To: AntiGuv
The tyrant is unmasked, we the people have lost all our rights. The government is our supreme master, we live to serve the state.
11 posted on 06/23/2005 7:39:21 AM PDT by jpsb (I already know I am a terrible speller)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies >

It's pretty clear from this ruling that the masters are not "the state", but the almighty corporation.

How do they so consistently fail to get it?

[JRob]

22. ...why are they members of the Republican party?

because they "consistently fail to get it".

[UdoKier]

Yet another one who totally doesn't get it...

To: Helmholtz
I want to see the Preseident come out fast and hard against this decision, and stand up for property owners rights on this issue. On this he must take a stand.


38 posted on 06/23/2005 7:52:18 AM PDT by BikerNYC
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies >


LMFAO! This president, stand up for THE PEOPLE?!?! LOLOLOL!! OMFG! Where the fuck have you been for the last 5 years, idiot? This guy DID THIS VERY THING IN DALLAS. He confiscated a bunch of people's homes for dirt cheap to build his stupid stadium. He was taken to court for ripping them off and lost - but he still made a bundle on the deal when he sold the Rangers.

Bush LOOOVES this decision, freeptard.

[redqueen]

31. That's right... Bush is ALL FOR taking private homes for commercial use.

I'm glad those homeowners won their lawsuits, but I'd rather have my home than a judgment in my favor and a ballpark for a crappy team.

I hope they all hold their breath waiting for him to take a stand against this.

[UdoKier]

No Shit. Isn't it amazing how LITTLE they know about their Clown Prince?

And why might that be? I know every bimbo Clinton every dallied with, and the details of his Whitewater & Chinese Buddhist Temple Dealings as well as "travelgate"


SO who might be responsible for the average freeper knowing absolutely NOTHING about Dumbya? Hmmmm.

Could it be... SATAN*?????



*In modern parlance, better known as corporate media.

[Horse with no Name]

34. There was also an item in our local paper in the early 90's

In Athens, TX.
Dubya wanted some land to hunt on, but the land had been in the family of this elderly man's family for generations and he wasn't interested in selling.
Sooo, shrubby got the city of Athens to annex the land for public use--kicked the old man off of his family homestead, then the city sold the land to Bush.
These people are fucking maggots and they don't care about anyone except themselves.

[hedda_foil]

32. Not the almighty corporations but the state in service to them

Some dare call it facism.

[Cats Against Frist]

37. Uh...the state IS the corporation

and, in my opinion, taken to its logical conclusion, this definitely gives creedence to an anti-state message. Think about it -- Georgie Whoregie is sucking up our tax dollars to pay for his wars, his propaganda, his galas, his private circle jerk sessions, sweetheart deals, corporate handouts. They're even using liberal infrastructure to feed corporations, like the Medicare Prescription Drug Handout.

It took me a LONG time to see what the freepers were bitching about, when they complained about their tax dollars being taken. Of course, the basis of their argument isn't really freedom, or they wouldn't continue to support corpo-fascists and theocrats -- the basis of their arguments have more to do with racism and fear. However, their overall message isn't a bad one: big government is bad.

I happen to agree. Even when taking into consideration potential benefits from government. I think that the trade-offs aren't worth the risk.

This IS an anti-statist case, an anti-authoritarian case, and an anti-corporatist case.

[G_j]

40. seems to me corporations have become the state

they have been influencing the laws that get written for a long time now..

corporate-state=fascist-state

[JRob]

21. Dem's and Repub's are equally at risk on most of what we fight against

here or anywhere...

They are mostly distracted by non-issues (fighting us) while the imperialist continue to steal the world.

I am constantly telling repub's that we're all in the same boat and that I hope that eventually they'll wake up and start helping us to find a paddle...

Ultimately we all win... or loose.

[Walt Starr]

10. As of today, I no longer give a flying fuck who gets nominated to SCOTUS

It no longer matters. We are screwed regardless.

[DistressedAmerican]

36. Um, Justice Ashcroft?

[Walt Starr]

50. What difference would it really make?

Seriously.

[jzodda]

11. They would have to take my property by force.....

n/t

[PATRICK]

18. The best attack would be

to ruin those who intend to mive in with bad publicity, boycotts and any kind of scorched earth economic consequences available. Ostracization by the community, and in fact, really getting the support of the local community so the government who wants to raze your property backs down will help increase healthy activism on a local level.

Don't wait until you are facing deputies and one tepid, toothless piece in the local paper.

[Throckmorton]

43. Don't Worry, they would kill you in an instant

Be sure of that, because you are an anti-business commie. Now that your beating like a good little Serf and get of King George II's land.

[PATRICK]

13. Amazing

before I even clicked on this post I thought"Hell, no." Mindreaders.

[me b zola]

15. damn

It could be 20-40 years before that can be overturned. Anyone trying to take our land from us would be in for a rude awakening:grr:

[patdem]

16. If they stole my house and employed 1 person that is 1 more employed

than is an employee in my house now..so if they can steal residencies for business it will always be a 'net gain' to the local economy...so they just lowered the bar to declare eminent domain to such a level I would have no justification to want to keep my house. I hate these corporations...:grr:

[JRob]

28. Wait and see how it shakes out when China owns the Majority of our

Corps...

Chinese Oil Giant in Takeover Bid for U.S. Corporation
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/business/worldbusiness/23unocal.html?ex=1277179200&en=c02621fa27e32155&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

Greenspan, Snow warn against China sanctions
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=1&u=/nm/20050623/pl_nm/economy_china_dc

[MadHound]

17. This ruling means that property rights in this country are officially dead

If you've got property on the outskirts of a city, and developers want it, the county can seize it and force you off. After all, they will get more property taxes from twenty one acre housing sites than from one small time farmer on twenty acres.

This means that WalMart and other big box stores can move in virtually anywhere. This means that if you've improved your property over the years, put in a pond, a wooded area, etc, counties can come in and sieze it for a fucking country club, and you will have no recourse other than violence.

This means that there are no real property owners in this country anymore, we're just occupying the land, for a price, until the county decides they want the land for some other development, then you will get kicked off. Sure, you'll get "compensation", but in many counties the compensation you receive will be far short of fair market value, and for some of us, there is no amount of money that will compensate us for the toil, sweat, blood and family memories that go into making a home.

Mark my words, there will be blood over this, as desperate homeowners, with no legal recourse, will turn to violence to prevent themselves from being forcibly evicted. This happened here in the Midwest during the seventies and eighties when family farms were being seized, it will happen again, but hopefully there willl be more publicity on the matter, since the violence will now be happening everywhere, including in the cities and 'burbs.

[dweller]

20. i think a WalMart would look good

at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

dp

[redqueen]

23. We should all be calling our Senators and Representatives!

I hope outraged Republicans are doing the same... this is intolerable!

If you don't already know who your Representative / Senators are, please find out and tell them to start working on the amendment overturning this decsion ASAP!

Please call now!

877-762-8762

[aden_nak]

24. You might as well have asked

if we accepted George W. Bush as our lord and savior.

:D

[BeTheChange]

27. This.is.ridiculous

I am at a loss for words. I guess the only safe place to buy property is somewhere a megamall cant be built. That parcel with the 45 degree incline on the side of a mountain is starting to look pretty damn good.

One question. Do they have to atleast pay the home/property owners something for it? Or can they just take it and leave the people stuck like chuck?

[Throckmorton]

44. They have to pay you fair market value,

Which in this case was a farce, try and buy property walking distance to the seashore in Connecticut for what they were paying, around $150,000 per home. In SE Connecticut a two bedroom condo walking distance to the waterfront costs more than that.

[DistressedAmerican]

33. Voted Hell No! But, Meant FUCK NO!

Why are liberal justices giving the government MORE POWER to fuck us? I REALLY do not get this one at all!!!

[UdoKier]

35. Exactly. Who the hell are these people?

What the hell were they thinking? They should be ashamed. They should be put in stockades and pelted by angry crowds day and night.

"Justices" my ass.

[Throckmorton]

45. The servants of the Have's and the Have More's.

Don't worry, it is only going to get much worse.

[GreenPartyVoter]

41. It would be nice if the ruling did in fact benefit the people but

we all know it will be abused and land will be given to developers.

[Throckmorton]

46. In this case the land is being given to developers

It's not even a secret in this case.

[Puzzler]

48. This may be the straw...

... that breaks the proverbial camel's back for even dyed-in-the-wool right-wingers.

-P

[WLKjr]

47. WAL-MART will love this....

just watch and see.....

[VOX]

49. I'm as liberal/progressive as they come, and this is a VILE ruling.

The ruling is totally in favor of **private** economic development. I have no idea why the so-called "liberal" judges voted for this God-awful decision. Where is the benefit to the small business-person, or the homeowner in this? Where is the greater good in all this? It's just so completely rotten in so many ways! :mad:

This terrible ruling has an even darker portent:The SCOTUS just handed the keys to * to make any/every radical, right-wing nutcase judicial appointment he wants to make.

[kcass1954]

51. Pay attention to your local politics.

I realize that if you are in a big city, you just don't have nearly enough influence. But if you're in a smaller city or town, watch what's going on.

I live in a small town of just under 29,000 that's part of a much bigger metropolitan area. We have among the highest real estate taxes in the county, largely due to the fact that we have a very small commercial tax base. We had city elections in March (mayor and commission seats in 2 districts), and the mayor's race was not pretty. The hot issue was, and continues to be, density requested by the residential developer in a parcel just annexed into our city. Yes, a higher density allowance will bring in more tax dollars, but these additional residents will require city services, and 1500 homes will make a huge impact to our already overcrowded schools. I believe that we elected the right person - several weeks prior to the election, we were both at the same civic function and I had the opportunity so talk to her one-on-one, and we specifically discussed this property. We both share the same view that the thing that causes our taxes to be high is the very thing that makes our town such a great place to live.

We do have a regular Walmart. Our current zoning restrictions do not allow for the construction of a Supercenter, and the city commission basically told Walmart to take a hike, so they went a couple of towns south.

[Dubyawatchers]

53. This decision was unbelievable

I called my local chamber of commerce this morning, they were speechless.
It sounded like they were having multiple orgasms
in the background.(not really)


I quess that according to this, the goverment can't post troops
in my house BUT they'd allow some corporation like KBR to
steal it from me and turn it into an outsourced recreational area.

It's past time for the revolution, "F" em all.