the.com/eminent domain
the government's 'this is now mine' clause, with a check attached.
means the legal power of the state to seize private property for public use, as long as it pays fair compensation.
from rooted in the latin dominium eminens, 'supreme lordship,' the idea that sovereign power over land outranks private title; the u.s. codified it in the fifth amendment, which giveth the taking and taketh the compensation.
kelo v. new london2005 case let city seize homes for private development
just compensationfair market value, not sentimental value
global cousinmost countries have some version, different name
blight loopholecities sometimes label areas blighted to justify seizure