The short version of this is that the government used to be able to seize your home in order to build public works, like hyperspace bypasses, and now the government is allowed to seize your home so that the Wal*Mart corporation can build a new Wal*Mart in its place. I'm shocked that three of the supreme court justices nominated by republicans voted for this, because seizure of private property for the public good is about as communist an idea as they come.

Putting how evil this ruling is aside, seizure of property is not a wise move on the part of the local government. Okay, so yes, the Wal*Mart is probably going to pay more taxes than the erstwhile homeowners were. But how long do you think you're going to have homeowners in your constituency when they have to live in fear that the gestapo will come for their houses while they sleep?

So don't worry, this will only be abused if your local government is in bed with big business!

On Twitter: @mogwai_poet