Last Monday, I discussed the case for property in response to the Supreme Court’s recent eminent domain ruling. A lot has happened in one week. The usual suspects cheered on the ruling. Some towns got busy giving walking papers to home and business owners. And some states have begun private property protection bills: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Missouri (Broken link, active July 4, 2005), New Jersey, Oklahoma (Broken link, active July 4, 2005), Pennsylvania (Broken link, active July 4, 2005), Washington, and Wisconsin, that I know of (if anyone knows of bills in any other states, please note in the comments with a link, and I will add it). For everyone in other states, you can sign a petition to demand eminent domain protection from your legislatures.
Walter Williams discusses the implications of confiscating property, while the Heritage Foundation speculates that the backlash from this ruling could lead to the restoration of property rights lost to previous smart growth and eminent domain abuses.
For all the latest news on the eminent domain ruling and its backlash, visit Eminent Domain Watch (hat tip: Michelle Malkin). The Institute for Justice has just launched Hands Off My Home, to empower individuals and small businesses to fight eminent domain abuse. And this ruling seems to have galvanized Congress to finally put a check on judiciary: last week the House voted to withhold federal funds to any community which relies on the Supreme Court’s ruling to take private property, a move Nancy Pelosi deplored, suggesting that Court decisions are almost on par with the voice of God. (Read Mark Steyn on Pelosi’s dissent.) There is so much I could say. And I might at some point. Let’s just say I wonder if this is part of the liberals’ new strategy to convince us regular Americans that they are not anti-God.
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