Cities may seize homes

[demsvmejm]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Originally posted by DJ:<br /> As mentioned in another topic.<br /><br />If you do not vote, or care for whom you do, you are destined to get this type of ruling. Judges (Fed and higher state levels) are appointed, NOT elected.<br /><br />Ruling from the bench has become a way of life. Why? We as citizens-DON'T CARE!<br /><br />We get/got what we deserve. <br /><br />Big business has nothing to do with this. They are merely taking advantage of any loophole they can. You'd do the same-ADMIT IT! <br /><br />Does the IRS come to mind? It should.<br /><br />We citizens spend big $$$ looking for any loophole we can. Why? Because we think we're getting something over. If we had a just and simplified tax code, there would be no reason to look for the loopholes. The same goes for big business. People are people, whether they are calling the shots or executing them.<br /><br />It's EASY to sit back and kibitz about the government. But when it comes voting time, we fall into a transe and believe whatever the BIG media feeds us. BIG media is BIG business-TOO!<br /><br />Do your homework people. Voting is not only your right, it's also your civic DUTY!

Believe it or not, I agree 100%. It's time we as a society stand up and make our voices heard. Write your congressmen and demand a narrowing of the conditions, otherwise, your house could be next. I will be writing to mine.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Originally posted by eeboater:<br /> I wonder if this will finally be a wake up call to everyone who has been blind to the fact that the Judiciary is out of control in this country.

Unfortunately EE, DJ stated the reality, "We as citizens-DON'T CARE!" Apathy will be the downfall of this country.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Cities may seize homes

What are you all carping about? Who better than the government to tell you where you can live and how to live? It is the governments job to educate (indoctrinate), feed us, protect us, give us medicine, tell us where to live, tell us what to do and what not to do, heat our homes, cool our homes, set prices on gas, give us condoms, give us birth control, tell us what cars to drive, provide abortions, create jobs, feed the world, topple dictators, not topple dictators, dictate thought. And on and on and on.<br /><br />Now this surprises anyone? The ends justify the means. Welcome to the commune.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Quote prom a part of David L. Moore "It's time we as a society stand up and make our voices heard. Write your congressmen and demand a narrowing of the conditions, otherwise, your house could be next."

 

[wvit100]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Despite what you think this is nothing new. Government has always had the right to condemn your property and urban renewal has been going on for years. This ruling by the Court is mearly them saying that they will not overrule the State court in this decision and that the State's have the power to decide condemnation rules for within their bourders. <br /><br />And who is the government - it's you and me and everyone else who either votes or chooses not to vote in local and state elections. We talk about the government like it's some strange unknown force that we don't have any control over. If you don't like this ruling then get involved. Find out the condemnation laws in your state and talk with your local representative. Being pissed off isn't going to change anything.<br /><br />One thing to remember though, government needs the right to condemn property. Without condemnation there would be no airports, no roads, etc. Any project could be stonewalled by a couple of property owners who for one reason or another wouldn't sell. Sometimes I think that the government does overstep their bounds when condemning property for redevelopment but for the most part I think that the condemnation rules are used for the general welfare of the people.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Under Connecticut law, the City of New London could condemn property for economic development purposes. <br /><br />The City of New London had a development plan that was projected to create in excess of 1,000 jobs, to increase tax and other revenues, to revitalize an economically distressed city, including its downtown and waterfront areas, and make the city more attractive. After approving an integrated development plan, the City of New London, through its development agency, purchased most of the property earmarked for the project from willing sellers, but initiated condemnation proceedings when the petitioners, the owners of the rest of the property, refused to sell.<br /><br />In a 5-4 decision, the U S Supreme Court upheld the condemnations. The majority held that (a) although the city could not take the petitioners’ land simply to confer a private benefit on a particular private party, the takings at issue would be executed pursuant to a carefully considered development plan, which was not adopted "to benefit a particular class of identifiable individuals," (b) The city’s determination – that the area at issue was sufficiently distressed to justify a program of economic rejuvenation – was entitled to deference. (c) The petitioners’ proposal that the Court adopt a new bright-line rule that economic development did not qualify as a public use was rejected. "Putting aside the unpersuasive suggestion that the City's plan will provide only purely economic benefits, neither precedent nor logic supports petitioners' proposal. Promoting economic development is a traditional and long accepted function of government. There is, moreover, no principled way of distinguishing economic development from the other public purposes that we have recognized."

 

[DJ]

Re: Cities may seize homes

What happened to the tried and true method of "neighborhoods" forcing the issue(s)?<br /><br />Oh, I know, we don't talk to our neighbors anymore.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Cities may seize homes

How do force your neighbor to do anything? What if your neighbor just flat out refuses no matter what is said?

 

[BrettNC]

Re: Cities may seize homes

"What if your neighbor just flat out refuses no matter what is said?"<br /><br />Then tough sh$t. It's his property. Period. Want the property? Then offer more money. A fundamental problem here is that a whole lot of ridiculous reasons can be construed as being used for the welfare of the public. We are a capitalistic economy and culture. That dictates where and how development occurs. If you are a private enterprise then that is what you have to deal with. When government gets its messy hand involved is where we run into problems. Why do local governments want this? For the tax base it provides. Why do they want more money? To sustain themselves.

 

[20/20]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Originally posted by wvit100:<br />And who is the government - it's you and me and everyone else who either votes or chooses not to vote in local and state elections. We talk about the government like it's some strange unknown force that we don't have any control over. If you don't like this ruling then get involved. Find out the condemnation laws in your state and talk with your local representative. Being pissed off isn't going to change anything.<br />

Wvit100, please don't take insult to what I am about to write but I do have to disagree with you about the unknown force statement. When is the last time we the people agreed to give congress these big pay raises? When did we the people agree to throw these million dollar private parties for Joe the politician? When did we the people agree to throw billions to other countrys before we take car of our own problems? The list goes on and on, you are correct we do get to vote but we really don't have jack squat to say as far as controlling what happens. I think getting involved is a step in the right direction, but somehow we need to get rid of the greed in this country.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Cities may seize homes

20/20<br />You just hit the jackpot!. It is greed that drive all us human to wants. It is a process that takes place in the local communities and then the city and eventually the federal government. By the time this greed process reaches the federal level, we the people, have to pay a bigger chunk out of our pocket and in it goes into the other person pocket by ways of pay raise to the congressman/woman etc... <br /><br />Fear of not getting enough and greed of not having enough is the ultimate driving force for people that are in position abuse their power to attain it.<br /><br />We, the people, can do something about it and that is to vote for the people that you think stands up for your values and also for your rights.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Cities may seize homes

20/20 - You agreed when the politician was voted into office. Obviously you seem to think that you live in a democracy where everyone gets to vote on every topic. This is not the case. You live in a republic where the people vote on a representative that will represent them in government. That representative has to represent everyone in his district all of which have differing views on every issue. The representative's job to to make an informed decision on the issues, not take a poll on each topic. <br /><br />On the topic of Congressional salaries. I can't see how anyone can say they are excessive. These are people who are representing hundreds of thousands of voters.<br /><br />How much do Members get paid?<br /><br />There is little reason for there to be public confusion over this fact, as it is widely reported and readily available on the House and Senate web sites. As of January 2004, Senators and Representatives receive $158,100 per year. Certain positions have higher rates of pay. The Majority and Minority Leaders in both the House and Senate and the President pro tempore of the Senate earn $175,700. The Speaker of the House earns $203,000.

 

[20/20]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Lets not forget the private partys thrown for these reps.{useing our tax $$$}. Lets not forget the free housing useing our tax $$$$. lets not forget tax $$$ going to some art piece useing our tax $$$$. they may get 150,000 a year but at the same time they don't have to pay for anything either, transportation, food, dinning, etc.....Another one I almost forgot, how is it an offical can get fired but still gets full pay. Try that in any other job and see how stupid it would sound? Wvit100, you seem to give a hoot about what is/can happen but lets be honest our system needs many bugs removed. Another thing, most of us vote for the worse of a few evils, what happened too honest folks running? I am not saying all politicians are horrible but there are more back stabbers then honest folks in office. I know I sound harsh but isn't it time Americans took the country back? Why do we have to be uninvolved when it comes to our lives being toyed with? I would be willing to bet most of us here would rather have seen the 15 billion stay in this country to help our own before it went to a third world country to help them with aids etc...? I am willing to bet most of us here would rather see a million tax $$$ go to our kids college instead of a party for some offical? I am part of the American legion and they had a very interesting article a couple of years back about how our tax $$ get wasted on stupid sh**. I do agree with what someone said earlier about not enough people getting involved/caring. The problem is some times you can only hit a rock without braking it so many times before you just give up and say screw it. I know plenty of folks that have spoke up wrote to congress etc... just to be treated like a #. I am starting to believe "we the people" really means we the rich, greedy, corporate, politcians, run the country.

 

[K Hultgre]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Friend of mine just passed this to me and thought I would share.<br /><br />http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html <br /><br /> http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html <br /><br />All I have to say is go Logan go.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Cities may seize homes

20/20 - You talk about money going to art being wasted. Some people wouldn't call that waste. Would you say the Vietnam Memorial was a waste of money? Some people would. What you've got to remember is that your point of view of what's waste is not everyone's point of view. There are 300+ million people in this country and that's 300+ million opinions that the politicians have to represent. A good number of the people in this country think that the war in Iraq was is a waste of money. What about their opinion?<br /><br />Making generalizing statements about how things work or what is a waste of money doesn't do anything but **** someone off. You need to be specific in your critisms and be able to back up your opinions with facts.

 

[20/20]

Re: Cities may seize homes

Wvit100, sorry to have pissed you off, was not my intention. I also think that most folks can see the waste in tax $$$ as long as they take a look. Up here in NY we were suppose to keep toll roads going to pay for up keep on highways well the tolls keep going up but the highways keep going down. We have the lottery, it was suppose to help with education, once again that money seems to have disappeared. I don't have to list anything, in all honesty it is not that hard to find out were tax $$ are being wasted. You are correct certain art and opinions do come into play, but let me ask should art be on a higher scale then helping the elderly or children. Why should a prison have a pool table color TV weight room etc... while a 70/80 year old vet on SS has to eat cat food. The average cost to keep a prisoner is 40,000+ the average money that goes to the disabled ederly is 15,000 per year. There is waste and anyone that says there isn't is either a politicain themselfs or just never took the time too take a serious look at what is going on.

 

[20/20]

Re: Cities may seize homes

I am sorry for getting off subject on this thread, maybe we should just go back to the stealing of property? I was just trying to show there are alot of crooked things happening. I quess if it doesn't happen on a personal level then it doesn't seem to be a big deal. The old saying comes to mind "it will never happen to me". Or "well if they tear into that family then they'll leave mine alone."

 

[wilkin250r]

Re: Cities may seize homes

There are zoning laws that make it illegal for me to build an ugly, dirty manufacturing plant in your little rural neighborhood, increasing traffic through your quiet little streets. I can't open a giant casino next door to you, having people park illegally in your driveway, people stumbling out drunk at 2am yelling and keeping you awake all night.<br /><br />We force these types of businesses into certain, central locations, they aren't allowed just anywhere. As such, because they are limited in locations, we need to have the flexibility to be able to PUT them in those locations, even if it means relocating people.<br /><br />Now here is the part we may disagree. I haven't seen any resistance so far in this thread to eminent domain for military bases and freeways, and I view this new ruling as just an extension of that. Whether schools or shopping malls, it is ultimately all for public use, whether a private party is involved or not. Commerce and private business is just as important to society as highways and byways.