I couldn't believe my ears when I first heard about this story.  It seems that there is actually a Raisin Administrative Committee which is overseen by the Department of Agriculture.  Their job?  To seize almost half (47%) of a raisin farmer's crop.  In return, the raisin farmer might receive some money after the raisins are sold and the Raisin Administrative Committee "covers their cost".  To quote the Wikapedia article linked above:

 

Quote: 

 

The profits from the raisins, often seized for no payment, are then used to pay the expenses of the committee or pay back farmers for their seized produce. In one recent year, $65,483,211 was made, although it was all spent, with none left over for farmers, according to the review of one recent year.

 

What got my attention is the Fifth Amendment of The Bill of Rights states that private property can not be taken for public use, without just compensation.  This was challenged by one particular farmer, and the case made it to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Of course the liberal 9th Circuit Court disagreed and said that the Fifth Amendment only applies to real estate.   :wacko:

 

The case has made it to The Supreme Court, and it appears that the court will probably rule in favor of the farmer.

 

Here are a few news articles related to the story.

 

From Fox News

From The LA Times

From USA Today

 

This is just another example of how government has gotten too big.

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