Defenders of the public good, 9/10/05

A personal observation

By James Spolarich
I note that most of the staunch defenders of the 5th Amendment cited in eminent Domain Watch are not really defenders of "public use". They seem to be defenders of a slightly amended "public good", the right to take "blighted" and other property used in a manner they would rather not see. Conservatives who should be outraged by all "public good" takings are willing to accept half a loaf from the Democrats in order to temporarily forestall the total redistribution of private property by liberals (socialists) in a generation or two. I see that some Democrats are already making the distinction between personal property and commercial property (where they believe Kelo should be unrestricted).

---

James Spolarich: hikerguy@spolarich.net