What ever happened to the Fifth Amendment?

The English political philosopher John Locke, whose ideas underlie the U.S. Constitution, proclaimed that "government has no other end than the preservation of property."

Those ideas were what prompted the Fifth Amendment which states no one can be "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Now the U.S. Supreme Court by a 5 to 4 decision has struck a blow to private property rights and as usual, the liberal media is singing its praises.

The New York Times wrote, "The Supreme Court's ruling yesterday that the economically troubled city of New London, Conn., can use its power of eminent domain to spur development was a welcome vindication of cities' ability to act in the public interest. It also is a setback to the "property rights" movement, which is trying to block government from imposing reasonable zoning and environmental regulations."
The Limits of Property Rights (6-24-05), NYTimes.com

The majority Opinion for the Court was written by Justice John Paul Stevens and supported by David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, as well as Reagan appointee Justice Anthony Kennedy, who noted in his concurring opinion that states are free to pass additional protections if they see fit.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote the minority opinion with Justice Thomas also dissenting.

Read the full Opinion of the Court with the Concurring Opinion and the Dissents.

Whatever was left of the idea that liberals were there for the "little guy" was destroyed yesterday by this opinion by the libral wing of the U.S. Supreme Court. These homes where not blighted, but nice, decent homes that were well kept and well cared for full of hopes, dreams and memories.

One home was bought in 1987 by a woman who wanted a nice home to fix up and where she could enjoy a nice quiet, waterfront view.

Another home was lived in by a woman who was born there in 1918. Her husband moved into the home with her when the couple married 60 years ago. Is it the new "liberalism" to tell this nearly 90 year old that her whole life must now be bulldozed for a new Coast Guard Museum and a TGI Fridays?

Whenever a liberal says Republicans are only for the rich and big corportations, remember that it was the liberal Democrats that handed over the property rights of the "little guy" over to the big boxed retailers and large scale developers.

If we're going to start letting local governments take property for economic development, I have 6 homes we can start with: Steven's, Ginsburg's, Breyer's, Souter's, Kennedy's, and the editor of the New York Times.