Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America

Ten years after the Supreme Court's infamous eminent domain decision, Kelo v. New London, Timothy and Christina Sandefur's Cornerstone of Liberty surveys the landscape of property rights in the United States, from redevelopment projects that seize people's homes and businesses for the benefit of politically-connected developers, to environmental regulations that forbid people from building homes on land they supposedly own, to asset-forfeiture laws that let the police seize property involved in a crime even if the owner is not accused of any wrongdoing.  This second edition has been almost completely rewritten, incorporating details learned only after Kelo was decided, as well as an analysis of the post-Kelo reform efforts, and more recent Supreme Court decisions such as the Sackett and Koontz cases.  The Sandefurs combine real-life stories with the philosophical and legal background of private property rights to show why the right to ownership is one of the most essential of human rights. The Sandefurs also provide practical recommendations for better protecting property owners.