Quoted by ExistentialDisorder: "Government has always been able to take your land if they deem it necessary to build something like military bases, housing, or a new highway."

You're absolutely correct. It's called the "Law of Eminent Domain" and has been exercised extensively in the US for many years. The bad part also is that county Governments can also use it and it's been used in underhanded ways by developers with deep pockets.

Here is a description and the link...

"In United States law, eminent domain is the power of the state to appropriate private property for its own use without the owner's consent. In England and Wales, and other jurisdictions that follow the principles of English law, the related term compulsory purchase is used. Governments most commonly use the power of eminent domain when the acquisition of real property is necessary for the completion of a public project such as a road, and the owner of the required property is unwilling to negotiate a price for its sale. In many jurisdictions the power of eminent domain is tempered with a right that just compensation be made for the appropriation.

In the United States, the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution requires that just compensation be paid when the power of eminent domain is used, and requires that "public purpose" of the property be demonstrated. Over the years the definition of "public purpose" has expanded to include economic development plans which use eminent domain seizures to enable commercial development for the purpose of generating more tax revenue for the local government. [1] (http://reclaimdemocracy.org/civil_rights/public_use_corporate_abuse.php) Critics contend this perverts the intent of eminent domain law and tramples personal property rights. On Thursday June 23, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled, in a 5-4 ruling against Connecticut residents, that local governments may seize private property for economic development."

As for the policing of websites they hsve been trying to control the internet for years. Unfortunately, I see it happening to a degree and I'm not too surprised by anything they do. Those who aren't commercial but depict underage nudes, bestiality and BDSM will be scrutinized also. They had better have their i's dotted and their t's crossed. How it will work for sites hosted outside of the US-I suspect they will have no control over that. We don't own the world. :-) But I see more control coming in a variety of ways. It's been in the works for a long time and while we have been fiddling, Rome (example) has been warming up if not burning. The really sad part is the internet policing is just a drop in the bucket I'm afraid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain

Edited for spelling

Message edited on: 06/27/2005 18:54

Message edited on: 06/27/2005 18:55

Kathie Berry
Admin/PlanIT3D

Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot. 
Others transform a yellow spot into the sun.
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