EClark asks why I haven’t commented on the Kelo vs. New London decision. Probably was just busy.
I happen to think it’s a pretty bad decision, but that’s because it’s a particularly bad case. But, as the Shinecock Indians say, So what else is new?
My big complaint is that there’s no obvious way to judge “the best interests” here. I think a case like this screams for Heinlein’s tax solution from The Number Of The Beast…
Taxation is low, simple– and contains a surprise. The Federal government is supported by a head tax paid by the States , and is mostly for military and foreign affairs. This state derives most of it’s revenue from real estate taxes. It is a uniform rate set annually, with no property exempted, not even churches, hospitals, or schools– or roads; the best roads are toll roads.
The surprise lies in this: The owner appraises his own property.
There is a sting in the tail: Anyone can buy property against the owner’s wishes at the appraisal the owner placed on it. The owner can hang on only by raising his appraisal at once to a figure so high that no buyer wants it– and pay three years back taxes at his new appraisal.
In this vein, I’m quite happy to hear about the folks who are trying to use eminent domain to grab Justice Souter’s home to build a hotel.
And now, off to San Diego. See you all there– I’ll be at the IDW panel and Comics Weblogs panel, in the audience at least, and I wrote a few questions for the fan/pro trivia contest. Feel free to say hi if you see me.
I’m probably missing something subtle here, but how is Heinlein’s solution any different from the Supreme Court’s ruling? Basically, only people with enough money would end up owning property and everyone else will be living on property that someone else owns.
The big difference is that no one’s land is sacrosanct– if anyone wants to bid on any piece of land, they can– and they themselves can be undercut in turn, unless they set the right price.
So someone (God knows who) can undercut the likes of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates? Maybe, but the little guy still gets screwed.