Dear President,

Eminent domain is a topic that hits home to me for many reasons and I have an open mind about the subject. The definition of eminent domain is, the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation. The problem with eminent domain is some people don't want to move and the compensation is not always just. Those who support eminent domain say that it can progress a areas development, is for the greater good of the public, and keeps a business or homeowner from demanding a outrageous amount of money for the property because they know how much the city or town needs it.

When you get a notice of eminent domain and you don’t want to move you have virtually no choice. It doesn’t matter if the lands been in your family for hundreds of years. You will get offered a sum of money and have to take it and if you don’t like it too bad so sad. In the article, “5 Major Pros and Cons of Eminent Domain” by Crystal Lombardo stats, “sure you can duke it out in court but the rules are very clear and your options are very limited and you are not likely to win. So it is an offer that you really do not get to refuse.” People who like eminent domain would say that taking the property is helping the community more than it’s hurting the individual, but what if the individual is a farmer and needs the land to work to provide for his family.

Secondly compensation isn’t always fair. For example if your a farmer and the government takes a section down the middle of your land to make a highway then you don’t have that land to produce crop anymore which is income annually. You get one payment for what they think the land is worth so your income takes a hit and you might not be in a position where you can afford to loss income. While building the highway might improve other businesses there is still a different way for vehicles to do get there so why would you comprise someone else's livelihood.

Like I said in the first paragraph the definition of eminent domain is , the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation. A huge problem with eminent domain is explained in the article, Stop Eminent Domain Abuse” by the Castle Coalition as “Increasingly, over the second half of the twentieth century, local governments have tried to use eminent domain in order to transfer land to other private parties.” Eminent domain is suppose to be private property for public use. Not private property for private use. So by using eminent domain for private reason we are essentially saying you can have whatever you want as long as you have enough money.

Eminent domain needs to be changed. We live in a democracy and if someone owns a piece of land and wants to stay and live on it that should be allowed. While I can understand why eminent domain was necessary in the development of the country by building roads, factories, and making national parks. The United States is well developed and eminent domain should not be used as much as it is, and when it is used it needs to be fair.

From, Dalton Ashley

Works Cited

Coalition, Castlen. Stop Eminent Domain Abuse. n.p., n.d. Print.

Lombardo, Crystal. 5 Major Pros and Cons of Eminent Domain. N.p.: NLCAPT, 2015. Print.