Submitted by Ron Moore, Chair Manhattan Libertarian Party, Dec 21, 2007 10:20

Eminent Domain is no longer about replacing slums with hospitals (if it ever was). It' s now the latest trick politicians use to feed their unquenchable thirst for more money and more power over every aspect of your life.

A few actually seem to believe the process is moral or productive. Mayor Bloomberg once commented that potential federal limits on eminent domain would limit the NYC's ability to control it's own future. Our mayor seemed to miss the point that eminent domain rather limits property owner's ability to control their futures. Our mayor is famous for thinking he knows best how we wall should live.

But even good soldiers in the war against personal freedom seem to admit that the process by which government seizes people's homes and businesses is flawed at best. In August, Supreme Court Justice Stevens lamented his Kelo position saying that "the free play of market forces is more likely to produce acceptable results in the long run than the best-intentioned plans of public officials." DUH! Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Dan Doctoroff - the guy that said the free market and the interests of the city were incompatible - has now admitted that he never should have agreed to let Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project ignore the City's ULURP process. OOPS - None Killed. A few people lost their homes but who's counting? If they don't like the law - they can just get the Supreme Court to "clarify" it or ignore it altogether.

It almost looks as if they aren't even trying to hide it anymore. They will take your home or your business - because they can. Big government costs big money. Somebody has to sacrifice. And you can bet it won't be Bruce Ratner, or the New York Times, or Columbia or Michael Bloomberg or Dan Doctoroff.

Ron Moore, Chair
Manhattan Libertarian Party
www.ManhattanLP.org

Ron@ManhattanLP.org

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