Re[2]: [at-l] Maine land prices

[rafe.bustin@verizon.net (Raphael Bustin)]

At 04:03 PM 6/15/2002 -0400, Weary wrote:

>There  is  not  a  government  in the world that does not reserve for 
>itself the
>right  to take private land for what it perceives is the common good. 
>Frankly, I
>find  it hard to imagine a society that could function without giving 
>government
>this right.
>
>Probably humans first formed governments to regulate the distribution and 
>use of
>land.  It  is  a  role that continues to this day and will continue until 
>humans
>finally are eliminated from this earth.
>
>Several  European Kings proclaimed their ownership of the lands that we 
>now call
>North  America.  After  numerous  wars  among themselves -- wars in which 
>nary a
>king,  but  numerous  land  users  died -- we gradually evolved into the 
>present
>stand off.
>
>Perhaps  12-step  could  explain  how  a  half millennia of wars, 
>destruction of
>native  peoples,  and  exercise  of  sheer  government  power somehow 
>created an
>absolute right of untouchable private property rights.
>
>I agree a wise government needs to use its powers carefully. But I have no 
>doubt
>that the power is needed and it's use for creating roads and trails and 
>parks is
>appropriate.



I'm not in the habit of quoting posts verbatim, but I have to say:  nicely 
said.

(And well worth repeating.)


rafe b.
aka terrapin