Kick Them While They're Down

In June, the Supreme Court ruled in Kelo vs. New London that the government has the right to sieze private property under eminent domain laws and transfer the property to someone else for private use. The United States Constitution says "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." For some odd reason, the Supreme Court thinks that increasing tax revenues is a "public use" for eminent domain.

One would think that the town of New London, CT would be happy that they won this case, especially given the clear wording of the Constituion. But sadly, New London isn't finished yet. The town is now suing the residents for back rent since 2000. Because the residents failed to win in court, the town claims that it has owned the land since 2000, and the residents must pay up. Apparently it isn't enough to deprive people of their personal property, and they want to add insult to injury.

New London seems to have forgotton that government is the "government of the people, by the people, for the people." Instead, they think that the purpose of the government is to "screw the people." And unlike Michigan, which learned from the Poletown incident, Connecticut hasn't stepped in to curb the (IMHO) flagrantly corrupt behavior of the officials of New London. So the state is as much to blame as the town is.