The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down

Infrastructure Junkies! Exploring Eminent Domain, Right of Way, and Infrastructure Development (formerly The Pendulum Land Podcast)

Renowned author Howard Mansfield joins Infrastructure Junkies! to explain his fascinating book on property rights, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down. Mansfield details the odd and sometimes disturbing relationship Americans have with land and real property, and brings forth two compelling stories from his book. He details the tragic demise of a Vermont farmer named Romaine Tenney who stood in the way of highway construction in 1964. The Uniform Relocation Act was not yet in existence, and Mr. Tenney could have really used the assistance of a relocation agent… or could he? Kristen Short Bennett’s commentary on the story is surprising and compelling.

Howard Mansfield also details George Washington’s plans to drain the huge and magnificent Great Dismal Swamp located in southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina in the 1700’s. The land hungry Washington planned to convert the swamp to farmland, but those plans never came to fruition. Before wetlands regulations, before nature conservancy, before any sort of national environmental conscience, George Washington’s irresponsible and hare-brained scheme resulted in 250 years of environmental destruction and annihilation of a multitude of ecosystems.

Enjoy Mr. Mansfield’s fascinating presentation and perspective on American property, and never forget the obligations that right of way professionals have to our land and our country.

This episode is generously sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC.

Visit our podcast’s website at Infrastructure Junkies.