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Eleanor Fairchild, a 78-year-old Texas grandmother has been arrested for trespassing on her own land. The U.S. government has ruled that, through an eminent domain ruling, TransCanada gets a legal right to her land. However, Fairchild has refused negotiations, saying "I don't want tar sands anywhere in the United States."
Eminent Domain is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: "a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction".
This law is largely used for government construction jobs considered to be in the common good of the public such as building roads, parks and rail, so it's use for a private foreign investor is being questioned.
Daryl Hannah and 7 Other Celebs Arrested While Crusading for a Cause
History of the Federal Use of Eminent Domain
Daryl Hannah and Eleanor Fairchild Defend Family Farm from Tar Sands Pipeline
Interesting lead! Certainly has an emotional appeal sure to draw a few clicks. The real lead is somewhat buried; the use of eminent domain for private enterprise.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I thought of using that... but I thought that would more likely alienate readers than draw them in. Would it still have been better to use?
DeleteEminent domain is a Problem. You know, this has actually been a problem for quite a long time. There's even a movie back in... 1964, but the plot takes place in the 20s, called Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte where a woman's house is being demolished for that exact purpose.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you know, murder happens too, but that was the thrust of what started the action.
I'll have to check that movie out! Yeah, there should be a LOT of steps and checks in place to prevent this kind of abuse. :(
Delete