The good news is property owners now have the same rights as child rapists. The bad news is it took millions of dollars and a Supreme Court decision before government bureaucrats understood that. This is one of those stories that most folks read and say "duh" ... Last week’s 9-0 Supreme Court decision on behalf of an Idaho couple who had been targeted by the EPA caused quite a stir among people who believe in property rights. As it should. In essence, the court decided that the EPA can no longer act as judge, jury and executioner when issuing decrees as to which property deserves what protection, when and at what cost. In other words, the Supreme Court affirmed that property owners do have a right to their day in court. It seems insane, but prior to last week’s decision, that was not true. Before last week, an EPA bureaucrat could levy up to $75,000 a day in fines AND threaten prison to any property owner who did not obey a directive issued by that bureaucrat/Dan Hammes, St. Maries Gazette Record. More here. (2011 AP file photo: Mike and Chantell Sackett of Priest Lake pose for a photo in front of the Supreme Court in Washington)

Question: Were you surprised by the Supreme Court's unanimous decision on behalf of the Sacketts?