OPINION/COMMENTARY

Abuse of Power

The Constitution's Fifth Amendment contains the clear language that no person should "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." For most people, things like highways, police stations, and courthouses come to mind as examples of "public use." And "just compensation" means what amount of cash a seller demands in exchange for his or her property. But for local government bureaucrats around the country, the Fifth Amendment has been stood on its head, with "public use" meaning any private use that generates more tax booty for city hall, and "just compensation" meaning whatever the local government goons can steal the property for. In his outstanding book Abuse of Power: How the government misuses eminent domain, author Steven Greenhut tells of how rich developers and big corporations link arms with local government officials to steal property from small business owners, elderly widows, churches, and just plain old hard-working property owners....