LA Filmmaker Has Passion for Property Rights

(posted Apr 6)

Logan Darrow Clements of Freestar Media wants to turn the tide on government abuses of eminent domain. Clements, residing in Los Angeles, is shooting a documentary that he says will expose the reality of eminent domain. He is seeking footage of someone being dragged out of their home by the government. "It is over for America if Americans are not willing to go to jail to stop abusive government practices."

Clements compares the corner of Speedway's 16th and Georgetown to that of Hollywood and Vine, where property owner Bob Blue won a decisive victory against the city of Los Angeles.

Bob Blue, owner of Bernard Luggage Store, was able to keep his store even though the city wanted the site for a new hotel. A big development project is now occurring and they are building around Bob Blue. "This building is a monument to people fighting and winning against eminent domain abuse."

He told Speedway property owners not to give up, and to use Bob Blue as their inspiration. "Bob Blue should serve as a inspiration to those fighting eminent domain." He reminded them that when government officials label people as naysayers, it is all part of the "propaganda."

Through his research, he has discovered that when a government designates an area as blighted, it becomes self-perpetuating, because people no longer want to make improvements to their property if they think they are going to lose money. "Then, it actually becomes blighted," he said. The government creates the mindset of blight, thus opening the door to acquire the property.

He preferred government strengthen private property rights, not weaken them, as the solution to for the best economic results.

Clements placed his eminent domain abuse work on hold to make a documentary about the warnings of socialized medicine. He sees universal health care as a greater threat to Americans and began production of "Sick and Sicker" in 2007. His film is a counter to Michael Moore's movie discussing the system's benefits.

He visited, researched and filmed the Canadian heath care system. Clements said the production has been halted temporarily to raise another $200,000 to complete the film.

Clements recently visited Indianapolis to talk about his movie. He finds it scary that socialized medicine means a government bureaucrat will be making health decisions. He is astonished by those who believe that universal health care will be free and fail to realize that the service will be funded by their tax dollars.

Clements plans to make a another trip to Indiana on April 15 to raise more funds for the film. He is surprised by the level of difficulty that he is having to raise money from the medical profession. He surmised that doctors have grown "numb" to the issue because they have been under the threat of socialized medicine for the last 50 years.