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Research Paper Outline & Thesis: Eminent Domain
Some people simply are not prepared for the new neighbors moving into America: the
abuses of eminent domain. Although it has been around a great deal of time, eminent
domain is unjustly taking land from the American people at an alarming rate. Eminent
domain really is defined as being the government power exercised to purchase land or
property from the people in order to develop the land or property for economic or
community expansion. This topic is of importance to me and the general audience as it
directly confronts rights of the citizenry, which I believe we all are concerned about.
Really, powers are given and they can be taken away; eminent domain is up for grabs and
only one thing must be understood: that the U.S. Government should no longer be allowed
to use the power of eminent domain.
First in support of the government power, these were words written by Sheldon Richman
of The Future of Freedom Foundation regarding the eminent domain clause: "But like the
"€public use"€™ criterion, the requirement of just compensation had two worthy
intentions. First, it recognized that a property owner was not a servant of the state. If the
government wanted his property, it had to pay him. Second, the compensation requirement
would restrain the government. Obviously, if private properties were free for the taking,
the government would take much more than if it had to pay for it"€ (Richman). Richman,
like others, has noted what is probably the biggest reason people oppose the power: the
eminent domain clause was meant to be limited and respect private property rights. On top
of that people, in order to survive, must be able to keep what they produce, and to some
extent the domain clause sacrifices one individual for the benefit of others. With that type
of power the government can easily choose to violate anyones rights. Especially since
there is always someone who could turn property into something that would produce more
tax revenues.
Furthermore, eminent domain undermines economic development; it does this because
local officials are not experts in urban development and are often incapable of making
sound decisions regarding eminent domain. This means that city planners are displacing
thousands of families for questionable gain since there is no reliable check on their
capacity. One such displacement was cited by Samuel R. Staley of the Reason Public
Policy Institute in his article titled "Eminent Domain Takes Center Stage in
