Yes, the U.S. Constitution allows such an evil as eminent domain. And, yes, it is probably more often abused than used as intended.
"New Frontier" tries to maintain a neutral attitude toward the basic concept of legalized property theft, but eminent domain is definitely property theft.
Oh, sure, it's always claimed to be "the greatest good for the greatest number," as a judge says in the movie. But what it means, always, is the ones with the political pull get to force the others to get out of the way.
Think about the 1950s "Urban Renewal," which meant mostly removing inner-city black people, and from private homes into tenements, which so sadly often became slums.
And think about Kelo, surely the second-worst decision ever by the U.S. Supreme Court, and which is the subject of the 2017 movie, "Little Pink House."
That decision said phooey on human rights. Mere individuals had to move out so a large and politically connected development corporation could steal their property, their homes, in order to build for rich people -- so the city could get more property tax. (Nothing ever happened, as far as building. But the victims did get forced out and lost their homes. The land is, as of this writing, just rubble-strewn vacant lots.)
Never mind human rights. Never mind justice.
What counts is corporate interests. And more tax revenue.
Dealing with eminent domain, and providing lots of action, "New Frontier" is one more entry in the very uneven Three Mequiteers series, but with more story than usual, and some really excellent acting, as well as excellent directing by George Sherman, and excellent music by William Lava.
(Some of the IMDb commentary was written by people who obviously were not paying attention to the movie. No, the Three Mesquiteers were NOT Pony Express riders. They were re-enacting Pony Express riding as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of New Hope Valley. Some people just lust to find errors when they should have been watching the movie.)
"New Frontier" has a good script, giving each of the Mesquiteers opportunity to shine before the camera, as well as many others of the cast, including the villain played by Leroy Mason.
One of my favorites, Dave "Tex" O'Brien, has a good part as well as performing stunts, with the stunt crew led by the extraordinary Yakima Canutt.
And be on the lookout for a relative newcomer, a young woman named Phyllis Isley. Not long after, she became Jennifer Jones.
I highly recommend "New Frontier" and you can find a copy at YouTube.
"New Frontier" tries to maintain a neutral attitude toward the basic concept of legalized property theft, but eminent domain is definitely property theft.
Oh, sure, it's always claimed to be "the greatest good for the greatest number," as a judge says in the movie. But what it means, always, is the ones with the political pull get to force the others to get out of the way.
Think about the 1950s "Urban Renewal," which meant mostly removing inner-city black people, and from private homes into tenements, which so sadly often became slums.
And think about Kelo, surely the second-worst decision ever by the U.S. Supreme Court, and which is the subject of the 2017 movie, "Little Pink House."
That decision said phooey on human rights. Mere individuals had to move out so a large and politically connected development corporation could steal their property, their homes, in order to build for rich people -- so the city could get more property tax. (Nothing ever happened, as far as building. But the victims did get forced out and lost their homes. The land is, as of this writing, just rubble-strewn vacant lots.)
Never mind human rights. Never mind justice.
What counts is corporate interests. And more tax revenue.
Dealing with eminent domain, and providing lots of action, "New Frontier" is one more entry in the very uneven Three Mequiteers series, but with more story than usual, and some really excellent acting, as well as excellent directing by George Sherman, and excellent music by William Lava.
(Some of the IMDb commentary was written by people who obviously were not paying attention to the movie. No, the Three Mesquiteers were NOT Pony Express riders. They were re-enacting Pony Express riding as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of New Hope Valley. Some people just lust to find errors when they should have been watching the movie.)
"New Frontier" has a good script, giving each of the Mesquiteers opportunity to shine before the camera, as well as many others of the cast, including the villain played by Leroy Mason.
One of my favorites, Dave "Tex" O'Brien, has a good part as well as performing stunts, with the stunt crew led by the extraordinary Yakima Canutt.
And be on the lookout for a relative newcomer, a young woman named Phyllis Isley. Not long after, she became Jennifer Jones.
I highly recommend "New Frontier" and you can find a copy at YouTube.