Eminent Domain - Chinese Style

I was reading the news this morning and came across this story about eminent domain in China.  The photo above is of home of a man who refused to accept the government's offer when it came time to make room for a new highway.  The government simply tore down everything around it and paved the highway up to his doorstep.

For those of you who feel eminent domain is heavy handed here in the States, take a look at how they do business in China:

Luo had just completed his house at a cost of about 600,000 yuan ($95,000) when the government first approached him with their standard offer of 220,000 ($35,000) to move out — which he refused, Chen said. The offer has since gone up to 260,000 yuan ($41,000).

Nice!  So much for just compensation.  Our Constitution and laws do a much better job of protecting homeowners from this kind of injustice.  The article continues:

What is unusual in Luo's case is that his house has been allowed to stand for so long. It is common for local authorities in China to take extreme measures, such as cutting off utilities or moving in to demolish when residents are out for the day.

 Luo told local reporters his electricity and water are still flowing, and that he and his wife sleep in separate parts of the home to deter any partial demolition.

So it appears that the Chinese government typically follows a policy of constructive eviction for unruly homeowners who feel like they have been stiffed. 

The United States is a great place to buy, sell, and own real estate.