- Joined
- Aug 23, 1998
- Messages
- 5,582
The big problem I see here is corporate influence. It is one thing if the government wants your property for a new military installation, roadway, park or wildlife preserve, but allowing local governments to decide what is in the "public good" - meaning what will bring in cash - is just asking for corruption.
I do like the scenario with Hilton vs WalMart - I wonder if these laws extend to corporate holdings and not just private citizens.
Another question I have is whether it is normal for regular landowners in the US to have rights to anything other than the surface? I know I have run into properties here where mineral or other rights belonged to a mining company, but the surface didn't. basically if they decided you had oil/gold/whatever on your land, they were free to come in and get it, and you have squat to say about it, nor any claim to the profits from findings.
I do like the scenario with Hilton vs WalMart - I wonder if these laws extend to corporate holdings and not just private citizens.
Another question I have is whether it is normal for regular landowners in the US to have rights to anything other than the surface? I know I have run into properties here where mineral or other rights belonged to a mining company, but the surface didn't. basically if they decided you had oil/gold/whatever on your land, they were free to come in and get it, and you have squat to say about it, nor any claim to the profits from findings.