Does the concept of eminent domain make you nervous?

Imminent domain has been a big topic of disussion recently due to the fiasco that has taken place in Ohio in the last week or two. As most of you are well aware of, imminent domain has mainly been utilized as a course of action taken by local and state government to legally seize private property from citizens, houses, buildings and bare land, for the purpose of building structures that can benefit the entire populous as a whole (ex. library, hospital etc) NOW things are getting interesting. It seems that now judges and politicians feel that they have the ability to seize your property that may be lower value or in poor condition and see fit to hand it over to developers to build luxury condos or strip malls. Whatever they see fit. This is a very scary trend that we are seeing these days when it comes to your rights as a legal land owner in America. If it can happen to one person, what will stop greedy developers and crooked politicians from illegally seizing your property in the name of "the better common good" and building high dollar housing projects on your land? To me this is just one more example of middle and lower class citizens having their basic rights trampled on by the government that they pay taxes to. This kind of thing reminds me of something that would occur under a totalitarian state. Does anyone else feel like our freedoms and basic right are being stripped away piece by piece? How long will it be before they want YOUR property? Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

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mod edit: spelling in title

[edit on 28-2-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]

That strikes at the very heart of democracy and fairness. Talk about the USA becoming the land of the slave and greed... how the hell are you going to fight this if even your homes can be snatched out from under you if you dissent against the goverment?

Robert Mugabe did the same in Zimbabwe, and he got slated by the UK and US for doing it, and yet Bush and Greed corp he serves are heading for the same route as that nasty little maniac!

Oh and heres a thought: In ww2 and just before, hitler ordered that the homes that were needed could be seized for the use of the army. Jewish homes were taken first, and then all the other dissenters. This is insane Nasi tactics in the so called land of the free.

Well so far here in GA the eminent domain has been redefined by the governor that he very clearly stated that Eminent domain will no be used for private business to over step on citizens rights to their property.

And he was good to his word, recently one of our main hospitals has been buying out all the properties around their ever growing facilities in the town.

They tried to shorten somebody on the land using a court order to condenm the property even when it had a tenant living in it, and the court sided with the owner of the land giving her and her tenant more money that actually the land was worth, for all the problems that the business made them go through.

So I guess I am not afraid as long as the state takes an active role to stop abuses.

By the way business wanted the land for a multi million dollar day care and pre school but the pre school is not for free and the day care is for the workers in the hospital.

Great community investment indeed.





[edit on 28-2-2006 by marg6043]

I saw part of a clip[ on the news this evening, but don't know which channel was on.
It was about a subdivision that was taken over. The people bought new homes but the sales on their old homes never finalized and the developer has lots of problems. So, there are people paying on two homes!!!
www.castlecoalition.org...

See this interactive map, which will take a while to load:
maps.castlecoalition.org...
Be very afraid :shk:

First of all, it is Eminent domain, not "imminent."

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

[edit on 28-2-2006 by HowardRoark]

Originally posted by HowardRoark
First of all, it is Eminent domain, not "imminent."

What are you now the new ABC spell check in ATS.

Actually my littler Misspell was edited by Spell check, I guess it likes better imminent.

Imminent is also a word, it means near.

It actually fits the mood of impending doom a lot better than eminent.

Eminent generally means famous, whereas these actions are much more infamous.

I love the English language, in all its blobular glory. It just ate so many languages, now it's like the boogeyman, a stitched sheet full of spiders. It's a glorious abomination.

Anyhoo, for those interested in possible imminent abuses of eminent domain, the Gulf Coast is like shark central right now. Lots of money, lots of interest, for that matter, lots of interested parties.

I'd love to go down there right now and build a whole bunch of concrete domes for homes and businesses - make it the disaster-resistant construction achievement of the century. The weather's only going to get worse, it makes sense to build accordingly. But, unfortunately, there's blood in the water (money to be made), so the most likely scenario involves a slew of real estate buyout/remediation contracts acquired by international businesses after the state declares sooper-dooper bankruptcy and the feds step in.

Eminent domain is really screwy. There needs to be SERIOUS oversight to prevent abuse, and the oversight simply isn't there right now. That means that one has to assume abuse is rampant.

I was actually confounded by the spelling...some news sources used imminent...others used eminent...wasn't sure which was correct. We can all use an english lesson from time to time

Eminent domain needs to be aboloshed. In all cases. That's right. All cases. Why? Because if the government has the right to take away the property that you own, for any reason at all, then you don't really own it.

It's as simple as that.

I'll tell you a little story about eminent domain:
My family lives in Charles Town, West Virginia which is about an hours drive from Washington DC. Because of the recent housing boom this metropolitan area around the nations capital has grown tremendously, causing the price of houses and especially land to skyrocket. Recently there are 5 or 6 enormous subdivisions being constructed all around where I live, which is about 180 acres of farmland. Because of the rapid growth of population the sewer treatment facility which borders our property needs to expand. About 6 months ago we got a notice saying that the town needs this property to expand and because of eminent domain they were going to take it. However, this land is worth around $90,000 an acre. Just yesterday my parents were in court because of this matter and were handed a document saying they will recieve $13,000 an acre. This is complete bs and we now have to hire a lawyer to settle this. I realize that the town needs the land in order to accomodate the growing population, but its ridiculous that they can just take it for an outrageously low price. I guess that's the government for you

Sadly in my state Connecticut they can now take away your house for a private entity as long as "the private entity served as the legally authorized agent of the government" and its all fine and constitutional

True Tyranny no one's home or business is secure.

I have plans to move out of the state because of this and other moves Connecticut has made, Plus taxes are way to high here.

They should rename it nickname as the "Unconstitution State "

Not to mention the aggrivation, distress and financial burden that this will place on your family (fighting a government agency in a court of law will not be cheap). I think that this type of thing happens a LOT more than the news media reports.

How can you justify paying $13,000 per acre for property valued on the real market at even $20K, must less $90K. Highway robbery. Sounds to me like the powers that be just made themselves the deal of a lifetime! How unfortunate would it be to work your entire life to pay for a piece of property fair and square, only to have it taken away at will. This type of thing just seems to throw a citizens constitutional rights right out the window. And the worst part is that there is probably very little that you can do about it.

Originally posted by Peter Griffin
However, this land is worth around $90,000 an acre. Just yesterday my parents were in court because of this matter and were handed a document saying they will recieve $13,000 an acre.

SOOO not the first time I have heard this. MANY are getting LESS than the worth.

One I read a few months back, a family owned and operated tire business that ran for decades, got his property taken, was NOT compensated the REAL worth, and was then unable to afford to re-open elsewhere.

"...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Must be more than one meaning to the word 'just'.

It is because of what is happening to you and many others, that I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS. The folks that made this law need to have their homes taken for a toilet paper factory.

I decided years ago that I will rent. I could buy a home, but I refuse to - I don't like how the word 'own' is used. You own nothing. Everything you have can be taken. Your home could have been built by your great, great, great granddad, passed through the generations, ect. However, as soon as you don't pay taxes - yank! I also like the freedom of being able to move whenever I want and don't want anything a woman can take from a man in a divorce.

Sad, isn't it.

Again, the land of the free (which is by far not the most free country) is giving the shaft to 'we the people' and 'we the people' are unable to do anything about it.

See a trend?

Man, I am getting sour. Better stop writing now.

People it all borders to who are the politicians in your state and who they serve.

If the people demand that the state local government take into account the people's needs they have to listen.

In quantities things get done, but one single individual against private lawyers for multi million dollars businesses that are promising money to the politicians are not going to make it.

At least we here in GA have somebody that so far has been true to his word.

Way to go Mr. governor.

Sounds like communism/socialism/humanism/globalism to me.

Originally posted by denythestatusquo
Sounds like communism/socialism/humanism/globalism to me.

I agree.


There is NO reason to justify taking peoples' land that they worked hard to buy and keep.

And notice they just take poor peoples' land.


Grrrrrrr.

This is purely a communistic move and nothing else. What else could you call it?

I have to laugh, inspite of the sadness in this issue. Sean Hannity is on a campaign to abolish this issue (he's so wonderful)! Why doesnt his God Bush take care of this? Is this not something that the government can correct?
I am sure it can. Why doesnt Hannity and the other talking heads do something, after all, they work for the government.

Lots of talk and no action- then Hannity praises Bush, his honor.

I get more confused everyday.

Does the concept of eminent domain make you nervous?

Hell YES !! The gov can take anyones house for any reason. yea it makes me nervous.....the only way you could have some piece of mind is to buy a house in a area you can be sure no development will come to....but that initself is dangerous.

And with Imminent Domain the way it is.......the damn gov should be making my mortgage payments for me. Hell if its their land..then they should pay for it for me.

If they want my house by Imminent Domain...they better come with a army..they are gonna need it.

[edit on 1-3-2006 by Alpha Grey]

It's really disturbing the amount of freedom we've lost in the last 5-6 years

This is appaling. Its open to corruption in so many ways.
America gets a today...