[philsnow]

> the displaced people are adequately compensated for their loss

How can you measure (in order to attempt to "adequately compensate" displaced people) the inability to live in one's ancestral homeland? Imagine if we were all shipped to a somewhat earth-like moon somewhere, under "eminent domain".

[roywiggins]

"As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system. And regrettably, your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes. Thank you."

[kijin]

If I crash my car into a house that has a lot of sentimental value to you, and the resulting fire burns the whole place down, how do I measure and compensate for your loss?

In some jurisdictions, the law might award a certain percentage of additional damages for psychological harm, but that's about it. Sentimental value is purely subjective. Brutal as it may sound, impartial assessments cannot and need not account for such things.

Nobody's ancestral homeland is irreplaceable. In fact, the whole concept of ancestral homelands is often a religious or ideological fabrication that serves the interests of some members of a community but not others.