Now that we all know what eminent domain is...

In my post from a couple of days ago, I remarked that although eminent domain abuse certainly isn't the most critical issue facing us today, everyone is suddenly aware of it. Yesterday, in a casual setting, someone actually asked me what issue is most important to me, which sounded like a setup... a softball question begging me to rant. When I said "eminent domain", I was astounded that the two women I was chatting with both knew exactly what I meant, and were aware of the recent Supreme Court decision... and were outraged at the decision.

If that same conversation had taken place a couple of months ago, my "eminent domain" answer would have gotten blank stares in return. It just wasn't an issue of much import to the general public, despite the fact that it has been happening all around us, destroying many lives. I've explained what eminent domain abuse is about to many people. If they were local people and I mentioned Best Buy, they realized what I meant and understood it quite well. It's just that a big project like Best Buy makes news for a bit, then vanishes, to be forgotten by all those who weren't directly involved. Most don't even know that Richfield was slammed by a higher court case, and fined, for their illegal and unconscionable actions in taking property for Best Buy. By the time that court heard the matter, it was too late for the old property owners, and the massive (and ugly, in my opinion) Best Buy headquarters looms over everything near 494 and Penn Avenue.

What the Richfield City Council and Best Buy did was wrong in many ways, and even illegal in some ways, but they got away with it. Dozens of homeowners and many businesses bit the dust and disappeared from view and faded from public consciousness.

Lee McGrath, Executive Director of the local office of the Institute for Justice, opined over breakfast this morning that the Supreme Court decision in the Kelo case (IJ represented the homeowners) may have been a positive in the fight against eminent domain abuse... and I think he's right. It has outraged much of the nation, and brought the issue to the public eye. That a majority of our highest court justices would "bless" what cities have been doing on the sly for years has made the public aware that maybe it doesn't just happen to other people. Maybe it could happen to me... maybe I should pay attention and even get involved before they come after my house or my business.

As I wrote in "A blank page", there are dozens of issues that deserve commentary... issues I can get angry about... each with victims of government abuse who deserve our help as fellow citizens. But, there are three aspects of eminent domain abuse that should arouse each of us:

1. It is happening right next door to you, right now.
2. It can happen to you too... make no mistake about it.
3. It is not that difficult to stop, despite what the Supreme Court said.

Keep reading No Force, No Fraud, and I'll describe how ordinary citizens (yep, you and me) can put a screeching halt to eminent domain abuse. In the process, we might just make five Supreme Court justices recognize the proper relationship between a nation of citizens and their government... that our government was instituted to protect our rights, not to destroy them.

We have an opportunity. Runaway government, at all levels, may have finally infuriated enough of us that we will be willing to stand up and stomp our feet. If the libertarian phrase "Enough is Enough" now has personal meaning for you, then stay tuned here. Again, I ask:

Do you know what your city council is doing?

The blank page

When there were no computers, artists and writers occasionally shared a similar problem, facing a blank paper and having to begin creating. It can be difficult to make "the first mark"... to make a beginning. Over the years, I've learned to conquer such blocks, but there are times when I face a more serious block - not being able to choose subject matter.

I wish I could tell you that at those moments nothing inspires or disturbs me enough to make me write. Were that true, I would be content to leave well enough alone. Sadly, there are two conditions that give me pause, leaving my hands stranded quietly on the keyboard:

The first condition is that there are so many subjects crying for comment that I can't choose. With American politics straying ever further from our ideals, and hastening toward a brutish empire of willing serfs, I have to go no further than the daily news for issues that demand comment.

The second condition is concern that I will have readers who don't already understand the comments I might make. Unlike many writers, I have little interest in "preaching to the choir". It provides little value for the choir or the preacher. It may make both feel good... rephrasing what we all knew to be true, and the preacher may become well thought of as having really "nailed" the opposition, but if there is nothing to be learned, no new information to be communicated, then it seems hardly worth the effort in either writing or reading.

When I wrote My gulag and welcome to it in response to the Supreme Court Kelo decision, I had no idea how many other writers would join in. I had already written 8 previous articles concerning eminent domain... articles that had stood rather alone. Eminent domain is an issue that affects only a few people at a time, and so is easy to ignore. Suddenly though, the Supreme Court seemed to put its blessing on such takings, and that finally caught the attention of the general public. I don't recall another subject (save the War in Iraq) that has caused such universal outrage and elicited so many critical articles.

It will be interesting to see how long the outrage and attention lasts. I've had great difficulty in rousing others to that issue. It's just too easy to divert ones eyes and pretend that it will never affect you directly.

Is eminent domain abuse the most important political problem we face? It isn't, but it is one that can be stopped with relatively little effort and expense, by individuals participating in the workings of their own local government. It doesn't require mass protests such as those opposing a war. It doesn't require lobbying legislators, nor does it require much money. All that is required is attending your local city council meetings and speaking up when developments are being pushed at the expense of your neighbors. It is relatively simple, if boring, work... truth is, it is only the diligence we must exercise as free citizens.

Do you know what your city council is doing?

The new home of No Force, No Fraud

For more than two years and over 400 articles, the No Force blog has been part of City Pages' Babelogue. During that time, cumulative readership exceeded 250,000. Hopefully, that is an indication of interest in how libertarian principles apply to a broad cross-section of current issues.

Since the purpose of No Force, No Fraud has always been to illustrate and educate about libertarian principles, becoming part of the Liberty Education Fund website is a natural relocation.

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