To the Editor:
On Nov. 6, Virginia voters will be asked to vote on a Virginia constitutional amendment to prevent the government from taking private property through eminent domain and simply transferring it to another person.
The amendment states that: (1) property can only be taken for public use like a road and that the government in question bears the burden of proving the use is public, (2) the government in question cannot take more property than is necessary to accomplish the public use and (3) compensation for the property owner will include lost profits and other losses. You can find the full description of the amendment on the State Board of Elections web site.
We need checks and balances in government to help maintain our property rights that we worked so hard to acquire and maintain. The two following persons had it right when they stated:
"Next to the right of liberty, the right of property is the most important individual right guaranteed by the Constitution and the one which, united with that of personal liberty has contributed more to growth of civilization than any other institution established by the human race." — President William H. Taft.
"Ultimately property rights and person rights are the same thing." — President Calvin Coolidge.
Vote for the constitutional amendment and protect your property rights.
Frank Medico
Mount Vernon