Issue Position: Foxconn

Issue Position

Any publicly financed program, that is promoted with the urgency and fanfare that accompanied Foxconn, should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism.

On June 23, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered what might be its most controversial decision ever. In her written opinion against the decision (split 5 to 4) Justice O'Connor said: "Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private property, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result."

The fourth Amendment to the Constitution, a vital part of The Bill of Rights, states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated..."
How is it in any way "reasonable" to seize the home of a U.S. citizen for the purpose of turning it over to a private enterprise?

47 states scrambled to repair the damage done, including WI, whose legislation appears strong enough to prevent the action taken by the Mt. Pleasant Village Board, which voted 6 to 1 to condemn more than 20 homes as "blight," though they are clearly not.

Where are the constitution loving public officials and candidates for office in this matter? If there are any who have not blindly lined up in the Foxconn parade, they are yet to be publicly identified. Paul Ryan has taken the position that this is "not in my jurisdiction." Jurisdiction or not, does he not realize that the voice of The Speaker of the House might have some positive effect on this matter involving his constituents?!

One congressional candidate in the first district has declared this move illegal. That one is me, and I'm calling on all candidates and officials to take a public stance, for or against these American citizens whose rights are being trampled on.

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