Property rights

Monday is the third anniversary of a the Kelo Supreme Court decision that , which weakened our property rights and made it constitutional for local governments to take one’s private property and give it to another private entity.

Property rights are the cornerstone of all the rest of our liberties. If government can take our property from us for the economic benefit of others, the rest of our rights are meaningless. For instance, what good is my free speech if government can deprive me of my chosen shelter or my place of business?

The press, which is extremely sensitive to its constitutional rights, has accepted the Kelo decision with shortsighted complacency. Why?

Robert Kobler
Bonner Springs

Unfortunately, as good as it may sound to open up more oil-producing areas, anyone with any sense could tell you that the price of gas isn’t going down.

The only result will be bigger profits for the oil corporations and futures marketers who already own all the marbles in this game.

These robber barons have overused and abused the so called “free market” system, and have managed to dismiss or vilify anyone who speaks out against them.

The last time I walked the beaches of Texas I had to scrub oil off my legs and feet. This, and so many other reasons, argue for keeping a ban on off-shore drilling.

But since I don’t have the money or resources to sway the powers that be, I can only voice my opinions and vote my belief that if we’re ever to see an end to this lunacy, we’ll all have to do it from the ground up.

Jess Hall
Lenexa

Comments

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

On the subject of property rights. You never really own anything, the government can take it whenever they choose to, without warrant or merit. There is ZERO accountability by our government, the State of MO is one of the worst.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Unfortunately, as good as it may sound to open up more oil-producing areas, anyone with any sense could tell you that the price of gas isn’t going down.

The only result will be bigger profits for the oil corporations and futures marketers who already own all the marbles in this game. - Hall

8-10% net profit margin is hardly robbing anyone. Oil is a commodity, traded on the open market, indeed speculation plays some role in the price as it does with any futures markets. So explain Mr Hall, what SHOULD the price of oil be and how do you derive at that figure?

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Unfortunately, as good as it may sound to open up more oil-producing areas, anyone with any sense could tell you that the price of gas isn’t going down.

The only result will be bigger profits for the oil corporations and futures marketers who already own all the marbles in this game." - Jess

Jess obviously you have not looked at the publically available finances of the "oil barons". They are not making any hihger net margin than previous. Personally I think they should just shutdown all the refineries until the socilaist idiots that do not understand oil is a commodity just like coffee, gold, frozen OJ, etc.

So explain Mr Jess, just how much should gas cost? How do you determine that?

[Rogue]

Mr. Hall I hate to call anyone a liar, but as recent as last year I spent several days on those Gulf beaches, and I did not "scrub one drop of oil" off any part of me.

It is people like you that are costing us $5.00 a gallon because of your lies and paranoia.

Over a hundred rigs were damaged and destroyed in the Gulf during Katrina, and not one spill was reportd. I would suggest you check a few facts before launching your attacks against an industry that provides us a reliabel and extremely efficient source of energy. And if you can't lead, at least get the hell out of the way.