I can't believe the Supreme Court's actions today (click here for the story). According to the Court's ruling today, the government can take private property for private use. That means your local town can take away your home and property to build private office suites, condos, factories, etc. The Court's justification was that new development on the taken property could create jobs and an expanded tax base, which they say is for the "public" good. I don't oppose the government taking private property for uses such as roads, schools, etc, but I totally disagree that private property should ever be taken for private use. This means that big business and the well-to-do have another loop in the government now; they can rub shoulders with local government and pay off local elected leaders to get the private property that they want at a discounted price. Although the Court said the city must pay a "just" price, it is very doubtful that a "just" price would ever be given. Not only are our homes at risk but churches could also be hit with this. If a government wants some for tax revenue and a church is in a prime location for commercial development, now nothing is stopping that government from taking that land. Complete sadness! I am extremely disappointed in the ruling today! Didn't the founding fathers say that we have a right to property?! John Lock (whose ideas formed the basis of our country) believed that every human had the inalienable rights of "life, liberty, and property." I guess the Supreme Court doesn't see it that way.
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