John Paul Stevens in Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter

On Environment: Eminent domain ok for promoting economic development

A glaring instance of gutting private property rights occurred on June 5, 2000, when a divided United States Supreme Court issued its Kelo v. City of London decision, which ruled that government (in this case municipalities) could use its power of eminent domain to take citizens' homes and real property and transfer it to private entities for economic development. In support of this decision, Justice John Paul Stevens opined that "promoting economic development is a traditional and long--accepted function of government." He forgot the government was first and foremost established to protect citizens' lives and property. To Stevens, government knows best. He wrote: "The CITYhas carefully formulated an economic development that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including--but by no means limited to--new jobs and INCREASED TAX REVENUE [emphasis added]. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p. 77-78 Feb 8, 2011

The above quotations are from Seize Freedom! American Truths and Renewal in a Chaotic Age, by Rep. Thad McCotter. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of John Paul Stevens. Click here for John Paul Stevens on all issues.
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Page last updated: Feb 22, 2019