(Note: This is truly inspired, a fine letter from the heart of an American who cares!)

January 2, 2003

By Robert Young

Wethersfield, Connecticut

hoploans@snet.net

If private-property ownership is to remain what our forefathers intended it to be -- if it is to remain a part of the freedom, liberty and equality we all cherish, along with the economic and personal rewards and pride of owning private-property -- than we as citizens cannot sit back and justify the surrender of our private property to eminent domain.

When elected or appointed governmental officials can arbitrarily decide private-property ownership for purposes they solely determine -- and for uses they only subscribe to -- they have taken away from us our inalienable rights to own, hold and enjoy our property and liquidate it if and when we see fit.

The court decision of December 2, 2002, allows the condemnation of the Cornell Farm in Piscataway, which is just another prime example where the aura of legal invincibility attends the process of eminent domain.

The brazen town officials boldly continue pressing forward on the landowner(s), until the landowner(s) either mentally break down or go broke defending their private-property.

The town has at its disposal the law to take, a liberal judicial system that will allow the taking to occur, ample staff and taxpayer-funded resources to follow through. It has ill-conceived law, state support and appropriations of public funds for open space acquisitions -- which has increased and encouraged more takings.

Improper implementation of the eminent domain process has reached an epidemic stage across this nation.

As town officials arrogantly acquire private-property by eminent domain, their actions trap and overextend the financial resources of the communities they serve. In many towns across the country, taken properties result in higher court valuations and in time many properties are neglected and become a financial burden to the taxpayers.

On the human side of this equation, the Halper family has been living a life of high mental stress, due to the threat -- and now the actual court actions -- by the town and for Cornell Farm's own anticipated legal defense costs.

It is pathetic how many American Dreams have been destroyed in this country, due to the emboldened, elected and governmental officials and bureaucrats exploiting the power of eminent domain.

As history has shown us time and again, the price of freedom, liberty and equality is eternal vigilance. Vigilance requires that all citizens -- directly or indirectly -- must be on a 24/7/365 watch. They must understand the law of eminent domain, attend legislative body meetings, speak out and push for referendums to abolish the law of eminent domain.

As long as our government and its officials are allowed to arbitrarily implement eminent domain on its citizens, the American Dream is on its deathbed.