Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

November 17, 2009

In June 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the City of New London, Connecticut was permitted to seize and condemn residential property in order to make space for a research and development facility run by the Pfizer Corporation.

Under the power of eminent domain, government is permitted to pay fair market value for private property for use in the public interest. The Supreme Court?s decision expanded the permissible use of the power of eminent domain to include property takings that benefit private interests.

This was supposedly justified by assurances that New London?s development plan would result in significant local economic growth, as well as increased tax revenue for the municipal government.

Last week, however, Pfizer announced that it would soon close its plant. The anticipated economic growth never came and the envisioned urban improvements failed to materialize. All that?s left of this venture in local central planning are demolished homes and a soon-to-be vacant research center.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.