"John A. Weeks III" writes:
In article ,
wrote:

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that local governments may seize
people's homes and businesses, even against their will, for private
economic development.

http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_art...?storyid=40692
http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=40692

Our rights went nowhere. It has always been legal for
government to use "eminent domain" to take property for
the greater good. Highways and downtown renewal projects
get done like this all the time. The only thing new here
is that the Supreme Court validated the practice. There

In particular, takings for public *use* have been validated
for a long time.

The distinction in this case was that it was for *private*
use, otensibly for the public good. ie. the claim that
the developers were building something which, while benefitting
themselves, benefitted the community.

Takings and eminent domain are something that need to be
used lightly and carefully and should be viewed with great
skepticism. Such powers can be severely abused too easily.



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