ds to refurbish impoverished inner-city areas, residents are often forced to relocate as officials find it easier to demolish the area (and its problems) and turn it over to commercial development. Further, by transferring acquisitions to private developers there is the potential for corruption in the use of eminent domain. Favors may be granted to friends, acquaintances or associates of politicians or legislators who wish to develop certain areas. This takes advantage of the use of power, the rights of U.S. citizens under the Fifth Amendment and it further separates individuals through the class distinction of wealth.Eminent Domain Law. Viewed on Aug 8, 2003: http://www.eminentdomainlaw.net, 1-13. Another ethical issue eminent domain presents has to do with the gap between the poor and the rich. Private developers and government leaders are often wealthy or at least much better off than the poor private property owners in blighted areas. In such cases where government authorities demolish blighted areas to transfer property to private developers, poor property owners are taken advantage of because of the discrepancy between rich and po |
