04 August 2005
Mercantilist Municipalities Use Eminent Domain
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision sanctioning the use of eminent domain by municipalities for economic development seems to resurrect mercantilism as a legitimate government strategy. Democratic republican systems have long made it one of their central goals to facilitate entrepreneurship by individuals and corporations, but not to the exclusion of the personal pursuit of liberty and happiness.
Now, our constitution has been interpreted to mean that special interests in control of local governments have the right to use those institutions to promote a financial return on investment by real estate and commercial developers. It was once thought to be the preeminent right of the sovereign, under the principles of mercantilism, to manipulate the economic tools of government, like the exchange rate and customs regulations, in ways that would increase the wealth in its treasury. When sovereignty became the possession of the republic, it became the objective of eminent domain to raise the welfare of the republic’s citizens.
The Supreme Court has apparently declared that the special interests in control of local governments have the right to use eminent domain to improve the effectiveness of that control for achieving private economic goals at the expense of the public’s general welfare. Special interests have increased their ability to use their resources to manipulate government authority.
The historic transformation of government from sovereign monarchies to sovereign republics is being hijacked by the power of special economic interests. The Supreme Court has become their spokesman. If we are to protect that transformation, the use of eminent domain must be reserved directly to the public, and not to its influence-prone government.
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision sanctioning the use of eminent domain by municipalities for economic development seems to resurrect mercantilism as a legitimate government strategy. Democratic republican systems have long made it one of their central goals to facilitate entrepreneurship by individuals and corporations, but not to the exclusion of the personal pursuit of liberty and happiness.
Now, our constitution has been interpreted to mean that special interests in control of local governments have the right to use those institutions to promote a financial return on investment by real estate and commercial developers. It was once thought to be the preeminent right of the sovereign, under the principles of mercantilism, to manipulate the economic tools of government, like the exchange rate and customs regulations, in ways that would increase the wealth in its treasury. When sovereignty became the possession of the republic, it became the objective of eminent domain to raise the welfare of the republic’s citizens.
The Supreme Court has apparently declared that the special interests in control of local governments have the right to use eminent domain to improve the effectiveness of that control for achieving private economic goals at the expense of the public’s general welfare. Special interests have increased their ability to use their resources to manipulate government authority.
The historic transformation of government from sovereign monarchies to sovereign republics is being hijacked by the power of special economic interests. The Supreme Court has become their spokesman. If we are to protect that transformation, the use of eminent domain must be reserved directly to the public, and not to its influence-prone government.
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