SCOTUS set to hear eminent domain case on Tuesday

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=558&ncid=701&e=2&u=/ap/20050217/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_what_s_next

Justices will hear several arguments this spring on religion and property rights, including a case Tuesday that will decide whether cash-strapped cities may seize people's homes to make way for economic development projects.

****They did that in Arlington, Texas a couple of different times, once under Bush as governor. Not right to take people's homes for anything but public projects.

This is and has been a disgusting travesty of "emminent domain" laws. Previously these takings had been confined to cities, states, towns, etc. taking private property for the public good - roads, schools, parks, etc. which we can all understand. Lately this has been perverted into a method whereby some government entity seizes land by eminent domain to turn over to a PRIVATE entity, with the justification being that it will improve the tax basis of the entity doing the seizing which is how they justify it.

This means that if you live in some nice little neighborhood that they think can be "knocked-ed down" and rebuilt with some higher priced properties - look-out! And guess what - that may descibe many(if not most) of us.

This literally abrogates ownership rights of the individual. Think about it. If the private entity wants to buy land - let them do it in an open marketplace.