Eminent Dom.Man proposes taking Supreme court justices Home

[Don R]

2774 Beautiful, beeauuutiful.

[maple flats]

#2791! Who thought these judges were qualified to interpret the constitution. This decision really smells fishey to me, and these fish been laying in the sun for a few days.

[DanG]

Well, I now feel qualified to speak to this issue.  I have spent the last couple of hours reading the "Opinions" of the Justices.  I know some things I didn't know before, and am even more adamantly opposed to the ruling.

It has been said, over and over, that the more "conservative" viewpoint favored the large corporations and the wealthy, and the "liberals" were for the little guy.  HORSE PUCKEY! >:(  Go and read Justice Kennedy's "Majority Opinion", then come back and convince me!  Justice O'Connor and Justice Thomas were valient in their dissenting opinions, but were outnumbered by the Communists on the court.  Justice Thomas was particularly outspoken in his outrage at the usurping of an individual's right to own property, and the giving of that property to a large and very wealthy corporation. 

In case you don't know the particulars of the case, the town of New London, Ct has condemned a number of private parcels of land, and the homes on those parcels, in order to give that land to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, so that they can build a factory there.  The properties that are condemned are in good repair and of good reputation, and have been held in the same families for many years....some for over a century!  This is prime riverfront property in a downtown location, which is NOT a necessary attribute for a drug manufacturing facility.  Justice Souter's homestead would work just fine for this purpose.  In one case, the owner of the house was born in that house in 1918, and has lived there with her husband for over 60 years!  Other victims have similar, though less dramatic attachments to their homes.  None of the homes are considered by anyone to be a "blight upon the landscape."

In order to "satisfy" the requirement for "public use", Pfizer has agreed to build a boardwalk along the river, upon which the members of the public might traipse, should they desire. : : >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

[Frank_Pender]

Well, I am number 3394. 8) 8) 8)

[hawby]

DanG, I used to draw a paycheck from that *%$@* company called Pfizer. The Good Lord placed a very loud voice in the back of my head that said, "RUN!" I see nothing virtuous about them. I have seen how they treat people and I am convinced that they will stop at nothing to have their way in any situation. I also see nothing different between Pfizer and Enron. Same type of criminals, different industry. They spend MANY millions of $$$ to influence both sides of the aisles of all three branches of government.

I read the opinions of the Ten Commandments decision and I have a newfound respect for Justice Scalia. He basically said that the majority were, "Blowing smoke." I like that kinda talk.

[DanG]

I knew that, Hawby, and I thought about you when I saw the true scoop on the Supreme Court site.  I had thought, from what the news possums said, that the project was going to be a public park or shopping mall that would benefit the local population.  I was shocked to find out it would be a factory that could have been located anywhere!  I used to work for a big nasty company, too, so I know just how you feel.

[hawby]

They could build it on the toxic dump that The Upjohn Company created for the Super Fund guys at New Haven

[DanG]

 :D :D :D :D  Sounds like a winner to me! ;D  Maybe they could build the crack house...er..drug factory on Souter's place and put him on the toxic waste dump. ;D 8) ;D 8)

[hawby]

Don't get me wrong, drugs are a very cost effective tool in a Drs. arsenal. But I have come to the opinion that the Pharmaceutical industry has become almost as influential as the Military-Industrial complex that Ike warned us about. I do not advocate that we stop making military hardware ( at least the useful platforms), but we need to get these industrial giants under control. McCain-Feingold DID NOT do it. I doubt that anyone in a position of authority will be able to change the influence thing. Just the talk of pulling out of Nam was enuff to get JFK killed.....

[DanG]

I totally agree that we gotta get them under control, but how to do that without destroying the free enterprise system? ???

I have messed about with horses, over the years.  I'm not very good at training them, but I have learned a few things.  A horse is a big strong animal, and it is hard to push them around physically.  You have to make it easier for them to do what you want, than to do anything else.  Those big companies are a bit like horses....big, strong, and dumb.  Their main focus, like the horse, is the feed bucket.  We're gonna have to find a way to guide them down a better path to the bucket.  We can't just get rid of the bucket, or the horse will starve.  The trick is to make him EARN his time at the bucket.  Make it too hard, and he'll jump the fence.  Make it too hard on the company, and they'll move overseas.  I wish I knew how to make these companies be better citizens.  I guess if I did, I'd be rich and famous. ??? :

[crtreedude]

Good example DanG,

In training horses, one of the keys is get to them early and train them that they aren't stronger than you. Then, believe it or not, they never really figure it out again.

Sort of like a dog I once had. When she was a puppy, I had to protect her from a cat we had so that the cat wouldn't kill her. She was a red-tick coon dog. After she got bigger, she actually saved the cat once from a coon - just ran over and grab the coon by the neck and snapped the coon's neck.

But the cat would always boss around the dog. The dog never did figure out that if she could kill something attacking the cat, perhaps she was stronger than the cat.

Not sure how to apply this to big dump companies however... ;) I don't think they are as smart as my dog was.

[Ernie]

3611

[dail_h]

   3627 8) 8) 8)

[iain]

way to go ernie 8)


iain

[Ed_K]

 #3655 & #3656.
This run along with the purchase of Open Space Land, in the begining the state & influential people thought it would be great for the state to buy the building rights to farm land to keep it open. Now I'm wondering how long before the state sells the land to someone to build on, and make the state more $$$.

[SAWYER_SLIM]

#3663

[crtreedude]

There is a comic on the web that has been talking about this issue - perhaps then people might actually listen.

LONG URL LINK

Now what we really need is to have Doonesbury have Walden's Pond taken over - then it will be news.

[Chris J]

I heard on the radio this a.m. that the Texas legislature is working on a bill to prevent the taking of private land for 'questionable' purposes.  Hmm...we'll see if/how that pans out.

[sprucebunny]

An Associated Press article in my local paper says Tom Eaton R-Keene has started a task force to" look after the citizens" in the NH state senate
I could not find out more from AP but saw references to senators in Missouri doing the same thing.

Hope something comes of it .

[Roxie]

Something may come of it if enough people write their Congressman and Representatives. 
I'm not waiting for "them" to do something....I wrote my Congressman, Joe Pitts, and asked him to tell me his plan to stop this outrage.  I fully expect an answer...... soon .....
"They" have to hear you, and then "they" understand this won't be tolerated. 

[DanG]

Yup!  The legislative bodies are the proper venue for this issue.  The courts only interpret what the legislatures pass, supposedly.  I personally think they overstepped that boundary on this one, but better worded legislation is the best defense for that.  The local body, City and County councils, are the place to start.  They are closer, so they hear the voice of the people louder, and can act quicker.  Of course, we should petition for action at all levels of government.

[crtreedude]

Makes sense to push it - it should make a really good campaign year issue.

[Patty]

I wrote to both of Iowa's senators, and to President Bush about this. I only heard back from President Bush, and that was a "form letter".  :
No need to stop trying though, the more letters the better, as far as I am concerned.

Keep up the good work, folks, it is up to us to stop this infringement on our rights.

[Kirk_Allen]

Where Have I been?  Dont know how I missed this thread. 

3811 8) 8) 8) 8)

I think it might have been the title of it.  I was so *pithed over the decision that I didnt want to read a thing about it.  Guessed I should have read past the first few words.

Sorry Buzz!

[DeepWoods]

3815