Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Independence

A philosophical point or two to keep in mind.

There are two ways in which individuals can deal with one another. By force, or by consent.

Preservation Chicago doesn't want to persuade you, or offer you incentives to preserve your homes in a matter that suits their aesthetic sensibilities. They want to force you to surrender your homes to city bureaucrats, who in turn will force you to do whatever THEY want you to do and what they think is appropriate for a home's facade. You don't have to answer to them now, why would you give tham that power over you without getting a major benefit in return? Why do they get to essentially impose a "tax" on you merely because you bought a house that is old?

One of the offenses the founders of this country had against the King of England as stated in the Declaration of Independence was that:

"He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance...."

"For imposing taxes on us without our consent..."

"In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people...."

"We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Oh, and don't forget that final clause in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Landmarking is a supposedly public benefit. What is your just compensation?

And just to round out the discussion, here is a clause from the Fourteenth Amendment:

"...nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."

If you are deprived of property rights merely based on Aldermanic whim (City will landmark you if your alderman wants it; they will not landmark you if she doesn't), I don't care how many forums the city sponsors to let you vent your frustrations on the record; that is not really "due process" of law.

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