|
www.BurlesonCrowley.com
Kenneth Dierschke: Take a stand for private property rights
By
Nov 2, 2009, 10:37
I’ve spent several years now traveling and meeting with fellow Texans all over the state, which has given the unique and often unfortunate perspective of seeing firsthand the horrors of eminent domain at its worst.
Some of those involved, like me, live and work on a farm or ranch. Many more make their homes in town.
But in all cases, the sentiments of frustration and self-doubt are the same. When something the size of a government singles out some individual to take what’s theirs, not much can be done. Folks lose homes, livelihoods and family security.
In a state where private property ownership should be hallowed, we’ve seen this story unfold time and again. And because various court cases have allowed it, such property ploys can be exacted for less than market value and handed off to someone else who promises higher returns, and tax revenues, in the future.
We don’t have to take it.
On Tuesday, we owe it to ourselves, our friends and our neighbors to do what’s right. Get to the polls and vote yes of Proposition 11.
Sure, eminent domain has its place. We all benefit from roads, utility lines, new schools and hospitals. But when those powers have been abused time and again, stacking the energy and resources of a single individual or family against governments and corporations, something has gone horribly wrong.
Proposition 11 allows us to fix at least some of the problems with this system. If approved, it will become unconstitutional for government bodies to take land from one person and give it to another for their economic benefit. It will limit who has eminent domain power by forcing new bodies seeking the privilege to first obtain a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. And it will require that urban blight condemnations are never again handled as blanket proceedings that rub out entire neighborhoods.
Admittedly, more will still need to be done to truly reform our eminent domain system.
For years, we’ve fought hard to do just that: Repair this broken system and give that lone property owner a more equal footing with those who would condemn his home, business or land. We’ve fought for fair play. We’ve fought for fair consideration in all factors involving the loss of property. And we fought for fair compensation to the person who ultimately must give up what’s his.
Twice now we have developed strong private property rights bills with our lawmakers. In 2007, we won our support in both houses of our Texas Legislature only to meet a veto by Gov. Rick Perry. When the same legislation won unanimous Senate support in 2009 and failed to get past the politics that ensued in the House on an unrelated issue, our pleas to the governor to add the issue to his special called session fell on deaf ears.
Rest assured, our fight is far from finished, and a resounding yes vote on Proposition 11 will let all our elected officials know without doubt that private property rights are something we all hold dear in the Lone Star State.
Do your part on Tuesday. Vote yes on Proposition 11 and let our lawmakers know exactly where you stand.
Kenneth Dierschke, a grain and cotton farmer from San Angelo, is president of Texas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general
farm organization.
|
