'This is our heaven': Colorado couple fights to save land from eminent domain

"They're spending us to death," said landowner Andy Barrie.

He is not talking about property taxes, inflation or even the cost of skiing in glitzy ski country. Rather, he's talking about the legal fight he and his wife have been waging to save their pristine piece of mountain property -- with breathtaking views of Colorado's high country -- from being taken over by the county through eminent domain.

Their battle is a unique test of private property rights. Unlike in countless other cases, where local governments have used those powers to seize land to make way for a road or some economic development project, Colorado's Summit County is using eminent domain to go after the Barries' land simply because officials want the open space.

It's a peaceful plot of land the Barries don't want to part with.

Source

More government over-reach anyone? I won't debate the value of the land or that the Government has ulterior motives for wanting the land in order to trade it later. No, what bothers me is the use of "eminent domain" without a valid reason. I am opposed to eminent domain when it used for 'progress', but at least there is a semi-valid counter argument in that particular case. I am 100% opposed to this new form of Government terrorism that force people to pay to defend their property from local and Federal thieves that want property for no valid reason.

This is an absolute travesty of justice and apparently the couple realizes they are going to lose. I wish they had a legal defense fund because I feel passionately enough about this to donate to their cause.

If this is allowed to stand it creates a great precedence for Agenda 21 and the global take-over of personal property. What is to stop Globalists from using this case as a stepping stone to moving us all into controlled population centers?

Ugh, just disgusting.

reply to post by Metallicus


We never own anything in the US I wonder why we say ownership, anything you think is yours can be taken on a whim, we all know this by now. It goes hand in hand with all the rest.

Michael Ellner: "Just look at us, everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, Lawyers destroy justice, Universities destroy knowledge; governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality."

reply to post by Metallicus


Seriously?!?! This is horrible news.

I have a question though.... do they out right own the property? (what I mean is do they still pay a morgage? If so then the bank still technically the bank still owns the property which would make things harder on them I think)

It just does not sit right with me, the fact that the government would fight so hard to get this property or part of it just so they could have more space.

The real question though is WHY does the government need MORE space? What are their plans for the area? Do they have any military bases in that general area?

There are so many questions to ask about it but I will stop here.

Interesting Thread my friend.

Char-Lee
reply to post by Metallicus

 

We never own anything in the US I wonder why we say ownership, anything you think is yours can be taken on a whim, we all know this by now. It goes hand in hand with all the rest.

Michael Ellner: "Just look at us, everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, Lawyers destroy justice, Universities destroy knowledge; governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality."

Thats the perfect qoute for this situation!

We are no longer the United States of America that our founders created. Eventually, though not probably in my life, Americans are going to have an American "Spring" someday. Our Government is gone. People are clueless who to vote for and really there is no clear way to know who, if any, honest politicians are?

I believe it will be another 15, 20 years before the change. It was a great run for America but what the founders envisioned is now dead on gone. Just accept it and try and live the best life you can.

reply to post by Xeven

People are clueless who to vote for and really there is no clear way to know who, if any, honest politicians are?

I don't think it matters, I think they are all chosen by someone but not the public. Why are the same losers who don't even do their job in congress until they die of old age? Nope, there is no vote.

reply to post by Metallicus


As long as we keep letting them do this to us, they will keep doing it.

Is anybody helping these people in their fight? Anybody other than paid for lawyers? But if everyone expressed their anger and unwillingness to accept this then it wouldnt happen

reply to post by Silicis n Volvo



Breckinridge is filled with liberal progressives from Denver who probably care very little for property rights. Why aren't the townspeople standing up for their own? This is govt tyranny at its finest. And people wonder why goat herding peasants in third world countries turn to terrorism to protect their way of life..... In due time America in due time. Maybe these govt bureaucrats might understand a Molotov cocktail or Colombian necktie. Because I hate to say it but Americañs are once again going to have to resort to violence and bloodshed to protect their way of life and for government to once again fear the people. I mean I just don't get why these forest officials don't see anything wrong with this. I get their livelihood depends on their job, but don't they see what is happening to America?

reply to post by Metallicus

This is something that I've been saying for a while, we need to scrap eminent domain laws.

The government should never be able to take a person's property. They can request it but they should never be able to take it.

The situation with the Nevada rancher is yet another example. If they want his property or want him to discontinue a practice, the first step should be a written notice and the last step should be in a court room.

But this idea of government taking property through the barrel of a gun is contrary to anything even remotely associated with freedom or civil rights/liberties.

Violence begets violence.

If they're so concerned about "reducing violence" (which theyre not, they just want to confiscate guns), they should first look in the mirror and lead by example.

Would it be better that all of the White River National Forest be split?

So they buy this land in the middle of a National Forest, are using a utility vehicle inside the national forest in an area where motorized vehicles aren't allowed to be used to access their land and are upset with the outcome? Hello.

And let's not forget who voted to expand the eminent domain powers of the gov't. All those swell fellas put in there by the Good Ole Boys club.

Kinda ironic isn't it?

Derek

reply to post by GreenMtnBoys


They don't live in America, they live in gated communities, with armed guards at the entrance. Remind you of anything? Remember how barrons and such used to live in nice safe castle keeps? All it is is a modernized version of serfdom really. Most people just don't see it.

Theres a pretty easy way to deal with this.

Most don't see it with their fogged up rose colored glasses though.

reply to post by Metallicus


Do they have their home on it? Or is it simply land but in either case, its hard to depart and have taken away something that you worked for and made your own. I feel for them and hopefully they can get supporters to help them save what is rightfully theirs. What an unfortunate thing to have to deal with; the government trying to take your land when you are simply trying to live your life and playing by the rules and then you get strong armed and out-moneyed by the country you believed in.

snypwsd
reply to post by Metallicus

 

It just does not sit right with me, the fact that the government would fight so hard to get this property or part of it just so they could have more space.

The real question though is WHY does the government need MORE space? What are their plans for the area? Do they have any military bases in that general area?

There are so many questions to ask about it but I will stop here.

Interesting Thread my friend.

Very easy to understand. The federal government or the federal reserve is borrowing money from China. China wants all their stocks and whatever insured in the form of tangible items like gold or property ownership.

The US government could say, OK, you get ownership and economic development rights of these mountains in exchange for $1 billion dollars. The new owners may not exercise those, but it gives them some assurance that they're getting something in return. They could build a hotel resort, casino, private luxury residence.

The only obstacle to this plan is all those pesky private land owners who have itty-bitty scraps of land here and there. The government then needs to get rid of them so they can do the deal.