>>Somebody else's private property.
>Whose private property?
>In the US at least, every inch of our land has been confiscated at least once during the past 4 centuries, and in most cases several times.
>Same in Europe and the UK.
>The "private property" we have here is the result of a social covenant whereby everyone (the people's government in the US) grants all rights to an asset to the individual who claims those rights if certain tests are met - until the collective mind decides otherwise.
>It's the covenant, not whatever "rights" someone claims, that secures "private property" here.
>If enough people decide to change the covenant all bets are off.
>Slaves were "private property" here till the covenant covering that asset was changed by the Emancipation Proclamation.
>Whole companies were nationalized here during WWII and the government never asked permission. It just did it.
>AT&T was told that it had to get rid of the largest portion of its assets because they created a monopoly.
>
>If enough people think that my front yard will make a great community swimming pool, I'd better learn to swim.

great post - echoing the sense of wonder I always have when some individuals here, otherwise hardnosed/not too much thinking-impaired by religous or other beliefs, put things on a pedestal just because they are mentioned in the constitution or described as a human/unalienable right ;-)

Although I am not too certain if only decisions by the collective mind change the convenant, as the decision process seems to have more path changing parts than old style flipper machines and even in riot situations the collective mind can be influenced/steered