Sliding Down The Slippery Slope

It appears that America has quickly begun its slide down the slippery slope that was carved out of the Constitution last June. Readers may recall that it was at that time that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of the city of New London, Connecticut to invoke Eminent Domain in order to seize homeowners’ private property not for public use, as the Constitution mandates, but for the private use of others whose company the city more highly values.

In that case, the argument that was used to justify the taking, and the argument that carried the day in a 5-4 decision, was that the Public Use requirement could be satisfied if the property was taken in order to provide it to wealthier entities – who could provide the city with greater tax revenue that would, in turn, fund city projects.

People often make light of the slippery slope argument in any area of public life, but often at their own peril. In this particular case, the abomination that was the Kelo decision is already seeing foul fruit borne from the bitter seed that was planted.

In Sand Springs, Oklahoma the latest target of a local government’s perverted use of Eminent Domain is Colonial Baptist Church, which otherwise would be standing in the way of a development project to be anchored by a Home Depot. As was the case in New London, the biggest “selling point” of this move on the part of the local government is that new businesses will bring in more tax revenue to the city.

That the role of money as the primary motivation in this controversy is something that is recognized by parties on both sides of the issue. Roosevelt Guildon, who serves as the congregation’s Pastor, has noted, “I guess saving souls isn’t as important as raking in money for politicians to spend.” As if to confirm this allegation, Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker has been quoted as saying, in response to what outcry has occurred over the move, “I’m open to anyone telling me how we’re going to pay for city services.”

What this recognition/admission reveals is that the abuse of the constitutional provision for Eminent Domain is the direct result of out of control growth in the government at every level. Whether looking to help secure re-election, or simply build their personal empires, elected officials from Washington to Jefferson City to Sand Springs seem constantly on the lookout for ways to expand their influence in the lives of citizens via “services” they try to add to the government’s plate.

But new or expanded services must be paid for. Hence the need for greater revenue in the face of the fact that most traditional sources of government revenue are already heavily tapped, and the desire to sell Americans on measures they might otherwise think twice about based on the “it’ll generate more revenue” argument. It is the primary benefit put forth in support of lotteries. It is pretty much the sole argument when liquor initiatives come up. And it is what is fueling the ever-more threatening trend of government seizure of private property for the purpose of providing that property to other private entities.

That the problem of “Eminent Domain gone wild” is a real and vexing one is now beyond question. But no one who is as appalled by its abuse as is this writer should lose sight of the fact that it is also but a symptom of a larger problem that fuels it – a government that has grown far beyond a justifiable size. Citizens may indeed welcome a government that continually dangles goodies before their eyes, but they should recognize that “there is no free lunch.” Every goodie so dangled comes with a price, and the price may eventually come to be the most cherished freedoms and benefits enjoyed by virtue of being an American. Indeed, it may already be approaching that point. Just another confirmation of the truth of Jefferson’s statement that “That government governs best that governs least.”