posted
Basically, the question is what constitutes "public use"? And, as Simon pointed out, the public can "use" the privately developed land by collecting tax money from it. Like him, I'm not saying this outcome is a good thing. But the courts can't stop the government from making bad decisions: just illegal ones. Bad decisions are why we have referenda and limited terms of office. If the people of New London really believe their government is not acting for the public, I'm sure there are a number of things they can do about it.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
The issue is that (at least in the instance I linked) the decision only benifits a private company. It actually closes several private businesses and leaves all those employees without jobs. The new development might affter more jobs (assuming it's successful at all), but that's nothing to the people with no business or income. Mabye they can be janitors or something in the new condos....
Clarence Thomas' dissent is based on simple logic: The poorest land-owners/tennants live in the most likely areas for the city to size and have over to be "re-developed" by private business. Taking their land and selling it to private developers leaves the former landowners with no where to go- they were already living in the poorest neighborhood.
So, this ruling screws the poorest land-owners and only benifits the most wealthy developers.
Also consider that the city/state decides what is adequate conpensation.
In the past, if someone wanted to buy your land, you could set whatever price you wanted and if they wanted the land badly enough, they'd pay. Now the developer will just go through the local politicians (thay are, of course not motivated by personal intrests or greed) and your land (possibly in your family for generations) is now a condo for yuppies.
Not what the founding fathers had in mind.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
His first task would be having you comitted.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
I speak Jive- I'll be the translator for the UN. that way I'll get to sit next to NIcole KIdman all day (because all UN translators are incredibly bueatiful women, dontcha know?).
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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Too bad it's not a real company asking for Souter's land to develop.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
No, I don't count post numbers. See the little document icon just to the left of the date and time of the post? It's a direct hyperlink to that post, and the number at the end of the URL is the post number.
As for the odd, odd fellow bit... I concur. And so do the other voices in my head.
Registered: Mar 1999
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