So much for the "Pursuit of Happiness"

I've been meaning to write something about the Supreme Court ruling on eminent domain from last week and an article that I saw today has spurned me to finally follow through.

When I first heard the ruling I thought I must have misunderstood the article, but then upon further review I realized that the ruling did in fact state that city governments can seize people's homes, against their will if necessary, in order to make way for private economic development. How depressing is that?

As someone who wants to one day own a home and invest in real estate, I am now wondering if there is even a point. I mean why should I spend hard earned money on property that I hope to either live on or use as a means to build equity? The city can say at anytime that they want my property for private economic development. Of course they would give me some compensation but it would also be far less that I could get if I was dealing directly with the private developer.

Every city is trying to get old down town areas revitalized and I think that is great. But if I owned a building in that part of town and someone had a great idea about how to improve the area, I wouldn't even get to be in on the discussion of what I would be paid for my private property! Where is the capitalism? The Declaration of Independence speaks of protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. One of those pursuits is property as evidence in an early draft that in fact stated the protection of life, liberty and property. So I am not sure what documents the Court used to come to their opinion, but it certainly doesn't sound like they bothered to consult the big one published on July 4, 1776.

Thank goodness for people like Logan Darrow Clements. He has submitted a request to begin the application process for a hotel development in Weare, NH at 34 Cilley Hill Road. What is the significance of that specific address? It is none other than the address of Justice David Souter's home!

The proposed development, called "The Lost Liberty Hotel" will feature the "Just Desserts Cafe" and include a museum, open to the public, featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Instead of a Gideon's Bible each guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."

Clements indicated that the hotel must be built on this particular piece of land because it is a unique site being the home of someone largely responsible for destroying property rights for all Americans.

"This is not a prank" said Clements, "The Towne of Weare has five people on the Board of Selectmen. If three of them vote to use the power of eminent domain to take this land from Mr. Souter we can begin our hotel development."

Clements' plan is to raise investment capital from wealthy pro-liberty investors and draw up architectural plans. These plans would then be used to raise investment capital for the project. Clements hopes that regular customers of the hotel might include supporters of the Institute For Justice and participants in the Free State Project among others.

Patrick Henry would be proud!