On Thu, 2002-10-03 at 21:56, Vector wrote:
Tom writes:
[snip]
property ownership in the US has become, at best, a joke. Even if you do
have it paid off, they city in which you live can come and take it from you
because you aren't "conforming" to their beautification ordinances or other
Gov't bureaucrats can't just walk over to the County Records Office and
rip up your deed. The gov't must have a very good reason to do so, and
it takes a long time, and there are many hearings, appeals, etc.
This is typically done only when your property becomes a public
nuisance (house falling apart or letting grass grow very long,
thus inviting rodents into the neighborhood), and even then, if
it is something like grass, the county will usually send their
own people out to cut your grass, and then bill you for it.
suppoed 'reasons' like that. The county in which you live can come take it
from you because they need it for "county business." The state in which you
live can come and take it from you for just about any reason they want. And
as far as the federal gov was concerned it was theirs to start with. People
Eminent Domain is a good and ancient concept, and is in the US
Constitution. Amendment V : “...Nor shall private property be
taken for public use without just compensation.”
http://www.castlecoalition.org/faq/
Without it, the owner of a piece of property that "you" want to
build a (school|road|airport|hospital|etc) on could jack up his
asking price to outrageous heights and wait for the gov't to
pay up.
However, as always, crooked politicians twist the law to line
their own pockets.
http://www.castlecoalition.org/top_10_abuses/