Shrinking government to the size of a raisin
The Supreme Court is often no friend of conservatives and traditional values, but every once in a while they surprise us. Recently, the Court ruled against the government in a case where raisin farmers were being told to give up part of their annual crop for less than what it is worth.
A law that was established back in the Truman Administration-era allowed the government to seize a portion of farmers’ raisin crops in order to avoid supply being greater than demand, which would lower the price of dried fruits such as grapes.
One particular raisin farmer, who had been defying this ancient law for a long time, was told he owed $695,000 in unpaid fines and 1.2 million pounds of unpaid raisins. The farmer called the law “robbery,” “socialism,” “communism” and “feudalism,” and apparently the Supreme Court justices agreed. They voted 8-1 to declare the old law unconstitutional because it allowed federal officials to seize personal property from farmers without fully compensating them.
This decision did not receive the same amount of publicity that issues such as ObamaCare subsidies and gay marriage decisions received, but it is still a very important victory for conservatives. It’s a big win for supporters of property rights, who are trying to limit government power.
As J. David Breemer, attorney for the Pacific Law Foundation, said, “The decision confirms what should be obvious: the government cannot come and take your personal property without compensation, whether raisins or other property, on the ground that the taking is for your own good.” Another lawyer, John O’Quinn, called it “an important win for personal liberty.”
I say any legal decision that keeps government from getting bigger than it already is, is fine by me. Kudos to the Supreme Court for getting this right.
Hey Patriot Headquarters Blog persons, every single point I made has come from either personal or family experience. We Irish go back a long way here and we don’t forget. We don’t forget and we pass it on to out children. You should publish my remarks and learn from them
If we would stop giving our money away to the enemy and having multi-million dollar golf jaunts and vacations with Air Force One we would have the money to pay our bills and help our military to be strong.
Isn’t it great when they system works? It is a shame that it requires the final word to make everything right. It is a shame that cooler heads couldn’t prevail. It is for this reason Government needs to be redressed and the Republican Party has fallen flat on its face, not realizing that it has fallen and can’t get up. I guess it will take a big mouth idiot like Trump to put it into perfect perspective for the Republican Party as well as the Democrats. Nothing like the “RUDE AWAKING” to set things right.
I think we should make the government smaller. This would of course, include the military because it part of the government too. Maybe if we stop meddling and killing people we might have some money to fix our roads and bridges. Maybe put some of those out of work workers that are on public assistance back on the tax roles. It would be nice to see ex-military guys earning a decent living taking care of their families again.
Well, it is no secret that you are very anti-military and yes, that’s your right. Unfortunately, you seem to have a Pollyanna world view. Yes, you are exactly right when you say that the government should be smaller, but the military is the smallest it has been since the 50’s. I do agree that the US should stop meddling and so called ‘nation building’, but ‘killing people’ sounds a bit over the top. Unfortunately, many of those ‘out of work’ on public assistance want nothing to do with ‘work’ and will ‘fight mightily’ not to work despite former President Clinton’s efforts to require work in order to receive welfare.
Now the statement that really irritates me is; ” It would be nice to see ex-military guys earning a decent living taking care of their families again.” I hope you meant ‘living wage’ while in the military. However, that statement implies, to me, that you think they leave the military, then jump on the ‘gimme’ train! Not so. They go out and find jobs in the civilian sector and are, for the most part, the best that companies could get. They have been working many years learning and perfecting a trade in the service, and effectively providing to society when out. They actually ‘take care of their families’ while in the service (despite low comparable skills wages) of our country, and that surely doesn’t stop when they leave the service. Most, like myself (USMC 64-84), go to school to learn a trade useful in civilian society. Very few go to college initially, because they can’t afford it and are actively despised while in colleges (and polite society), so they go to technical schools where they can learn ‘real world’ skills (and endure less anti-military attitudes), as opposed to enrolling into any of the Progressive-ruined colleges. Lastly, to understand my stand; I spent 20 years (64-84 combat veteran) in the Marine Corps, retired (then 10 years (84-94) in the Reserves) and went to a vocational school in MN. I learned ‘Robotics and Automated Systems’, and got a high paying job in the robotics industry upon completion. After working in the robotics corporate world for about 4+ years I left and partnered with that same corporation and started my own company ‘Robot Systems Services’. I have also been a Computer Programmer and Commercial Realtor in later years. I’m now retired and living in SW Florida. So, look around and just see who contributes more to society; Service members (both active and former) or the likes of today’s ‘gimme’ population. Be glad for our continuing service (during and post-military) to protect the snowflakes and the ‘Pollyannas’, such as yourself. Get rid of your outdated and dangerous leftist views of our country and the world and appreciate what those like myself and my comrades who actively contribute to society and lastly, continue to honor our flag and country and will always help protect our way of living.
Nobody is more “anti-military” than the government itself. Examples abound but MacArthur having Eisenhower fire on Bonus Marchers and burn their tent city , the way that the VA is run, the suicide rate of active and separated soldiers, the lousy food, the political correctness of the brass, women on warships and even submarines, allowing gang members refuge in the ranks, allowing muslimes to dilute/pollute “our way of living”, and the last that I’ll mention, the criminal state in which the military spare parts have fallen to. THAT identifies the chief enemy of America, politicians and bureaucrats.
Need more? How about how Lincoln let low-bidder riverboat owners to convey Union soldiers back up the Mississippi to their deaths on overloaded fire ships? How about Wilson’s wife, defacto President, not quarantining sick soldiers coming back from WWI, and causing the Spanish Flu epidemic? There are thousands of examples even worse. Anti-military? See the folk song, Get Up Jack, Sit Down John (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9P-tE-U26w). Am I pissed about this?
Now if we could find a way to stop “The Feds” from doing huge land grabs in the west. Do we really need more 5 to 10 million acre ” National Monuments”??
While I agree with the fact that preservation of these lands is critical, I also know that for almost a century and a half now, The ranchers and many others involved have been very careful to care for and preserve these natural resources.
The proper use and care of these lands is vital to the local people. For the most part these people have been by far the best stewards of these lands
Case in point — The defacing of ancient rock art in the “Grand Staircase” national monument created by Bill Clinton, never happened until it became a Natl. Monument. Now instead of multiple use and stewardship, it has become a “rich mans playground” and managed by “The Feds”
One of the “cool” things for these spoiled rich kids to do is spay graffiti on rock art that has in the past been protected and cared for through multiple use. Much of it is sacred to the local Indians
This is just ONE example. Don’t even get me started about “The Feds” mis-management of the western “Wild” horse herds.
How does this affect the ‘civil forfeiture’ laws, if at all?
The vote was 8-1. Who voted for the government?
A Socialist DumboCrat.