What's this world coming to? Now any city can kick us out of our homes

[BigBearJohn]

From Keith Olberman's letter to me:

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses
- even against their will - for private economic development. As a result, cities now have wide
power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to
generate tax revenue. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8331097/

[Throckmorton]

1. It's OK, DUer Kraklen says its just fine if we get money for it.

Don't you Kraklen. After all, everything comes down to money doesn't it.

[Hugin]

3. That seems to be the talking point foisted out around GD.

Also, that it is a means of "taxing the rich".

Why the heck don't they just raise "Income taxes" if they're
so interested in money from the rich?

They also fail to mention this decision benefits big Pharma.

[wtbymark]

2. Even a staunch republican in the office....

condemned this ruling but of course had to point out that it was the 'liberal' justices that ruled for it. WTF was Ginsburg thinking anyways? got me.

[mnmoderatedem]

4. ya beat me to it

I was just about to post about this outrage.

Apparantly "in the best interest of the public" now means putting up a new Super Target or a strip mall.

Sadly this is nothing that has been going on for a while.

But now they have the nod from the Supreme Court.:grr:

Edit: typo

[KamaAina]

5. Local goverments are desperate for ca$$h

thanks to the marvel that is the Bush** economy :sarcasm: , state governments (which can't print money the way Bush**co can) are hurting -- and the first thing they do is to cut aid to local givwernments. (Actually the first thing they do is to eviscerate Medicaid, but that's a different rant...)

And so, how to balance the city or county budget? Bingo -- big new real estate developments. They're the one sector of the economy that isn't in the tank (yet), so that's where the money is. And if your modest two-bedroom bungalow happens to be in the way, well that's just too damn bad. That's progress. That's the American way. :sarcasm:

[MuseRider]

6. Who is ready to go

and help these people when the bulldozers come? I will, my husband will because we most certainly will be facing something like this soon. Our community has become totally consumed with becoming business friendly no matter who it screws. My farm, and our house site is in the county and the city is now trying to push through a city/council consolidation partly for this kind of issue(who needs those unsightly farm acres when you could build a factory?). I get at least 3 inquiries a year from developers who want to develop my farm because it is a lovely place. Will you come sit with me on my porch and face the dozers with us? We need to be ready to mobilize to help people who are "in the way" of the wealthy few who will take all from us. I am very upset about this and the only way we will be able to defeat this is to make an ungodly stink and show solidarity.

OK, I may be over reacting but this is a real blow to all of us.