time is running out..

The point I was trying to make is that this decision did not expand the boundaries of eminent domain. Economic development has been regarded as a legitimate public purpose for years. The far-right "property rights" folks had made this a crusade--to turn back the hands of time on this, as on so many other issues. The Supreme Court decision just confirmed that what most courts had held for years was correct: the public has an interest in economic development. What a shock!

Cc:
> Oh, my. Didn't anyone tell you that the recent Supreme Court decision
> didn't change existing law at all: it just failed to change it as
> certain property rights groups wanted it to. Stop getting hysterical,
> everyone. Eminent domain has been around for hundreds of years.

Well yes, eminent domain is an old idea. Yes it's a legitimate tool.

Still.

Economic development, the five-to-four ruling said, is a public use.
Well fine then. On the face of it this is not a radical
end-of-the-world kinda deal. But this does expand the powers of the
State. What worries me (and I don't think I'm alone) are the edge
effects this ruling can have.

Edge effect matter.

Brian Dunbar
System Administrator
Liftport

brian.dunbar@...
aim: bdunbar1967

Remember.
But move forward, too. Light a candle, yes. But also drive a rivet.
~Lileks