I really dislike the practice of eminent domain. I understand the need for roads (and maybe schools) but I can't stand the idea of local governments taking land to sell/give to businesses.
The supreme court ruled today that it is just peachy to take homes that people have lived in all thier lives and sell them to large corporations in an effort to increase the tax base and make new jobs.
The right side of the blogosphere was all over this with condemnations. There are some great posts by QandO, Michelle Malkin and Rhymes With Right). Basically all agree that the government shouldn't take things from individuals and give them to corporations.
You would think that the left side would be angry about giving to corporations part. Both Oliver Willis and Kevin Drum are silent and Atrios gives a half endorsemnt in this entry. He says that he doesn't support the decision but:
[T]he alternative could've been a conservative written opinion severely limiting the power of eminent domain and the concept of public use, which would've eviscerated a truly necessary government power.What? I guess I should say that I also think it was a bad decision but it's better than if they would have mandated the the current residents were dragged out in the street and murdered. He seems to be so afraid of the government losing some power that he prefers to give it too much power.
And yet he doesn't support the Patriot Act.
[Update] Powerline has a very well thought out post on the subject.
mwz
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