Oh Yeah, This Reeks In Ways We Can Only Imagine Right Now

From the Washington Post:

Supreme Court Expands Government's Right to Seize Homes

The Supreme Court today effectively expanded the right of local governments to seize private property under eminent domain, ruling that people's homes and businesses -- even those not considered blighted -- can be taken against their will for private development if the seizure serves a broadly defined "public use."

In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld the ability of New London, Conn., to seize people's homes to make way for an office, residential and retail complex supporting a new $300 million research facility of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. The city had argued that the project served a public use within the meaning of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution because it would increase tax revenues, create jobs and improve the local economy.

A group of homeowners in New London's Fort Trumbull area had fought the city's attempt to impose eminent domain, arguing that their property could be seized only to serve a clear public use such as building roads or schools or to eliminate blight. The homeowners, some of whom had lived in their house for decades, also argued that the public would benefit from the proposed project only if it turned out to be successful, making the "public use" requirement subject to the eventual performance of the private business venture.

The Fifth Amendment also requires "just compensation" for the owners, but that was not an issue in the case decided today because the homeowners did not want to give up their property at any price.

So there I was sitting on the crapper, and I hear the Supreme Court in the stall next to me. The Supreme Court asked "Hey, mind if I borrow your copy of the constitution? I need to wipe my ass."

Get that? It would increase tax revenue. So since it will make money for the government, the government has the right to take the property. What bunch of shit.

This is a nasty precedent. A developer promises a politician there's money to be made. That right now is enough to take your property. Get that? YOUR property.

This is not a project for public use. This is so Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company can put a building there. Everybody wins though, right? Pfizer makes money, the government makes money, and hey. Even the homeowner makes money. Or not. Depending on how generous the local government feels that day.

There are gazillions of acres of vacant land in this great big US of A. Why is it that the only place Pfizer can build this building is where they need to kick people out?