by Paul Jacob

Jane Glover, former mayor of New London, Connecticut, received a special holiday card this season. The front of the card was an artful rendering of a house, flag flying in the front, stars twinkling in the background, and snow falling.

The inside was another matter. It was a curse.

The card was from Susette Kelo, whose house was taken away from her after a long legal battle ending at the United States Supreme Court, in the notorious Kelo decision. In 14 lines of poetry, Ms. Kelo cursed Glover for the "house that you did take" and assigning the curse "From me to you, this spell I make."

Not great poetry. But the sentiment is clear. She wished "ill," as she put it. And then some.

Glover wasn't the only recipient. Kelo has a long list of enemies, and she checked it twice.

One recipient was puzzled. "It's amazing anyone could be so vindictive when they've made so much money," referring to the $442,155 settlement the city was forced to fork over. But for Kelo it was never about the money. She didn't want to move. And she didn't think the city had the right to take her property so that private developers could turn it into a business center.

The Supreme Court thought otherwise. I wonder how they'll enjoy her card.

Jane Glover thought the card cute. But, she said, "Being a Christian, I don't believe in curses."

Apparently, she does believe it OK to take some people's property to give to others.

Paul Jacob's "Common Sense" is published by the Sam Adams Alliance. Their website can be visited at www.samadamsalliance.org.