To the editor:

Once upon a time, citizens of the United States enjoyed private property rights. The Supreme Court decision Kelo v. City of New London, issued earlier this year, ended these liberties. Liberties guaranteed by our Constitution are finally being taken away.

In Louisiana, legislation preceding this Supreme Court decision allows private property to be taken and transferred to another owner. Louisiana calls this expropriation, which means to take without asking. Legislators are even proposing the taking of cemetery property.

House Bill 1136 in 2001, introduced by Representative Francis C. Thompson, allows sale of land taken by eminent domain to a third party without first offering to sell it back to the original owner. The legislation affects property at reservoirs, lakes, and near any river, creek or bayou taken for reservoir construction.

Legislator-developer Thompson is realizing personal gain selling lakefront lots. He has legislation creating many reservoirs, and his brother is a $100,000-a-year-per-lake consultant.

Self-serving Legislator-developers are creating 14 more reservoirs statewide. These are justified as assisting economic development through sale of lakefront lots, and increasing the tax base.

Reservoirs will take churches, homes of the old and poor, desecrate cemeteries, destroy wildlife and endangered species, and collect mercurypolluted water.

Should the old and poor suffer to build wealthy lake retirement communities? Should taxpayers spend S40 to $50 million a lake to make developers wealthy?

Legislators need to reconsider the Unchristian taking of homes, churches, desecration of cemeteries, and stop coveting thy neighbor's house.

These great real estate deals are currently being brought to you by our economic development policy, and use of our taxpayer's money.

Does it make you want to come and live in Louisiana, where your property rights are respected?

James Moore
Pitkin, Louisiana