Film related (wait for it) side rant: Eminent domain is a pretty horrible thing, a thing that has displaced many people pushing them out of their homes, lives and communities usually just to build a false sense of progress over their bulldozed histories. Someone recommended a documentary, which I haven't seen but hopefully will get a chance, called Greetings From Asbury Park that chronicles the realities of eminent domain in a town similar to my own hometown that suffers from this affliction.
The house that Gravity chronicles, as Brent says in the film, was torn down because it was "the only house on the block that didn't look like every other house on the block." This sense of uniformity in the name of progress is really spooky to me- that people have decided to knock down things that don't quite meet standards(?) of what should(?) be there. Not to say that it is always bad, sometimes things like parks and schools can come out of eminent domain or construction in general, but the idea that something unique or challenging (something other than a chain) is teetering on the brink of extinction is a frightening reality.
In an odd way I hope the rebuilding of Leonard's house in different places, and even the film itself (and even the films production for that matter!) will act as a reminder that not everything can be the same and the value of all things is different to everyone. I realize that someone may see the new house built over Leonard's actual Lousiville home as valuable but this constant tearing down of things we don't understand or necessarily agree with or that don't fit into a particular mold of being is nothing to call progress. Carlin, posted here, is an older short by Brent shot in the house that he grew up in, a house that after a fire fell into decay, and that we hope to make livable one day soon even if the neighbors want to tear it down because they think it is an eyesore bringing down their property values. End rant. (How'd I do? Eh?)
music: Tom Windish
2 years ago
The challenge is that more eminent domain is on its way through many back doors. In addition to economic development takings using the "blight" approach, we are in the midst of natural resource development takings in pursuit of shale gas (as in Barnett shale, Marcellus shale, and more).
ReplyDeleteThe pursuit of these gas-rich shales brings with it more pipelines and more underground gas storage fields -- and that (pipelines & storage fields) always means eminent domain. And in Pennsylvania, the gas industry and some legislators are talking up "forced pooling" which will permit gas companies to seize gas under your property, even if you refuse to sign a lease.
Unfortunately, the otherwise excellent Institute for Justice of Kelo fame declines to intervene in energy/utility takings because, they told me, of the "public good" premise. Instead, the Institute should reconsider and offer support in this expanding "market" for eminent domain abuse.
But property owners can fight back. Our two-year battle against Houston-based Spectra Energy which seized our property rights for an underground gas storage field led to the development of a website which has begun to attract whistle blowers inside the energy industry. If you want to learn from our experience and understand this type of eminent domain, refer to this post: Spectra Energy
Or here: http://www.spectraenergywatch.com/blog/?p=616
Private property rights are so fundamental that founding fathers such as Samuel Adams described it as an "essential" right and wrote, "that no man can justly take the property of another without his consent."
Life liberty & the pursuit of property came first..geeez!
ReplyDeleteAlso, Chris, bringing it back to film like I can't help but do, this film called Gasland http://gaslandthemovie.com/about-the-film
about how companies were leasing land, drilling for gas and then leaving the land toxic for homeowners is supposed to be great- haven't seen it yet but I am glad it exists! It has a crushing scene where people are lighting the water from their faucets on fire...so glad you are making a difference!