I was reading about State Rep. David Pearce's bill to protect Whiteman AFB (HB 348) and find one aspect of it troubling. It would allow the City of Knob Noster to control development in unincorporated areas around the base, without giving the affected property owners any legal representation or vote on those who set the rules.

The 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives the government has the right to take property for public use with just compensation. Controlling incompatible development around a military installation is a reasonable public use, in contrast with the case before the U.S. Supreme Court (where a city wants to seize homes to build a hotel). However, the government is trying to take these Whiteman-area property owners' development rights without offering any compensation, and that's plain wrong.

It seems that Republicans and Democrats alike are in favor of the aggrandizement of government at all levels. However, one established political party in Missouri has consistently spoken out against government growth and in favor of limited government as envisioned in the Constitution. That party is the Libertarian Party, and they're having a state convention this weekend in Kansas City. It’s cheap (free if you don’t eat), and close (Holiday Inn Sports Complex). If you’d like to learn more, visit www.lpmo.org or give them a call (1-877-868-3487).