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JUNE 23, 2005:

LIBERTARIANS CALL RULING "ABOMINATION"

Supreme Court Judgement Destroys Property Rights

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Patrick Dixon, Libertarian Party State Chair: 512-771-3936 chair@lptexas.org
Wes Benedict, LPT Executive Director: 512-442-4910 director@lptexas.org
Kris Overstreet, LPT Media Coordinator: 936-685-4992 cell 936-425-6523
media@lptexas.org

LAGO VISTA, TX - Lago Vista city councilman Patrick Dixon, state chairman of the Libertarian Party of Texas, reacted to the Supreme Court's June 23rd ruling in Kelo et al v. City of New London, CT with shock and anger.

"Our country was founded by people that escaped repressive monarchies and dictatorships," said Dixon. "They sought a land where they could become property owners and establish a government that protected their rights. This decision is yet another example of government becoming the enemy that our founders fled from."

The Supreme Court, in a 5 to 4 decision, found that the city of New London, Connecticut could take private homes and turn over the land to corporate developers on the grounds that the resulting new development would be a benefit to the community at large. Dissenting justices stated that, because any use of land can be claimed to benefit the community at large, the ruling allows government to sieze land at will, regardless of circumstance.

One of the plaintiffs in the New London case is an elderly couple that has lived in the same house since they were married over 50 years ago. This ruling will force the couple, along with the six other families who joined the lawsuit, to leave their home and see it destroyed to make way for a pharmaceutical plant, office space, and harborfront resorts.

"My city of Lago Vista is also a retirement community," Dixon said. "People come here to enjoy their retirement and settle down. The thought that government can force them out of their homes is an abomination."

"You can count on me to defend property rights as a councilman in my city," he added, calling upon voters to seek out and support Libertarians as candidates for city council.

Kris Overstreet, media coordinator for the Party, said in a brief public statement, "The Supreme Court has spoken, and it said, 'You own nothing. The government owns everything.' Now it is time for state legislatures to forswear this corrupt power, and the Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to return limits on eminent domain to the Founders' original intent."

Patrick Dixon was elected to city council in Lago Vista, TX in May of 2005. Information about his activity in office can be found at PatDixon.org. Information on the Libertarian Party, the only political party which supports the preservation of property rights, may be found at www.lp.org.

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