The Inherent Necessity of Property Rights in a Free Society

Raleigh, NC (TLS). Across the country citizens have found themselves the victim of a subversion of a Constitutional provision known as 'eminent domain.' Once reserved only for non-profit enterprises that were deemed necessary for the public good, increasingly local town governments have viewed eminent domain as a means of increasing the tax base by condemning private property and selling it to big businesses, such as Walmart.

The alarming proliferation of such obvious perversions of the Constitutional provision of eminent domain has citizens up in arms all across the country, including law suits that have been taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The High Court, admittedly, has a less-than-admirable record on the issue.

The Founders of this Republic disagreed on the issue of eminent domain. Jefferson abhorred the notion. Madison was for it. Madison's view prevailed. However, today's proponents of the frenzied use of the provision would be hard-pressed to show that even Madison would approve of the horrid manner in which local governments have run rough-shod over the private property rights of citizens.

One of our favorite columnists, the venerable Walter Williams, explains the ins and outs of the issue in the article you will find below in the Jewish World Review:

Property Rights