Eminent Domain

I’ve always found the notion of eminent domain distasteful. It’s when the state can claim your property in order to put it to better use. For example, if they want to build a highway and your house is in the way, they can pay you “market value” (determined by them) and claim the land. No matter if you want to continue to live there.

First of all, who’s making the judgement that the highway is more useful than you living there?

The reasoning behind eminent domain is that the government will buy properties along the highway route but the last few holding out will demand “exorbitant” amounts of money to give up their land and stand in the way of progress. Eminent domain reduces the leverage these landholders have.

An alternative solution: make conditional offerings to every property holder. If you can’t come to an agreement with everyone, no one gets any money.