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December 4, 2006
An American's home is still her castle
Last year's Supreme Court ruling weakening property rights may end up strengthening them
The Economist
The international news weekly describes the plight of our neighbors in Long Branch, NJ, who are fighting the town's attempt to take their homes to build more expensive homes, as an example of how the debate over eminent domain has sharpened since last year's Kelo decision.
The backlash may end up strengthening property rights. Before Kelo, few Americans had heard of eminent domain or knew that it was being abused. Local seizures generated no national headlines. Local victims rarely made common cause with similarly afflicted folk in neighbouring states. Since Kelo, however, every serious paper and news channel has tackled the issue. Few, if any, sympathise with the home-grabbers. And the property-rights movement has gone national.
Posted by lumi at December 4, 2006 8:54 AM