Infinite MonkeysEvery once in awhile, you see something that just makes you want to cry out, "But this is AMERICA!" Now, I know I'm likely considered "the boy who cried Police State" around here on the blog, but what I read today offends me in the most profound way, and I hope the other Bear Flaggers (and others) will take up the call and discuss this issue thoroughly.
Yesterday, the Bakersfield Californian ran this piece by AP writer Tim Molloy. I will include the most offensive quote first, and then proceed with more quotes from the story. Malloy quotes Larry Adams, the mayor of California City, CA:
"I think it's a matter of one or two (who) probably are true believers in the freedom of mankind, blah blah blah, and they don't like eminent domain."
Read that sentence again, and let it soak in. No, wait - let me give you more of the story first. Again, from the article:
When Hyundai needed land for a new auto testing track, officials in this remote, high-desert town were eager to oblige...Now, go back and read the "blah blah blah" sentence again. The legal owners of property don't want it STOLEN from them under a law that CLEARLY was never meant to allow this kind of theft to happen. And the Mayor calls them "true believers"???Under a state law that allows governments to seize land designated as "urbanized and blighted," the city's redevelopment agency went to court and won permission to take more than 700 acres from private landowners...
...But four holdout property owners said if Hyundai wants the land it must be worth much more than what the city offered.
They have sued over the city's argument for condemning their land, saying it is anything but "urbanized." The region lies 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, set amid a lonely expanse of Mojave Desert dotted with Joshua trees and scrub brush.
"You know how the desert looks when it's pristine and hardly anybody's out there and there's no tracks or anything?" said Barry Redfearne, who owns 20 acres. "That's how it looks. And it's been like that for hundreds of years."
Private property is inseparable from liberty. If we are not free to own land without fear that our government will take it from us and give it to someone else, then we are simply not free. Let's forget the debate over whether or not it would be appropriate for government to take property that was TRULY "urbanized and blighted" away from its owners, and talk about the clear injustice in this case for a minute. This is pristine desert - many acres of it - purchased legitimately by its owners. And they want to take it away so that Hyundai can build a test track, and then the city will collect extra tax revenue.
I could go on and on about this, but I'd prefer to "share the outrage" and let some of the other Bear Flaggers give their thoughts. Does this sound acceptable to you? Should government be allowed to trample personal property rights whenever it believes it can make money doing so? How would you feel if the government snapped up your house or apartment and turned around and sold it to a real estate developer or factory?
(Hat Tip: Deuce of Clubs)
UPDATE: Deuce also recommends you let the Mayor know what you think. His numbers are listed as (760) 373-2539 and (760) 373-3241.
Posted by RobbL at March 21, 2004 10:46 PM | TrackBack