When the lock downs were first enacted, we were told that it was a necessary step to “flatten the curve.” If everyone stayed home, spread of the coronavirus would slow. Eight months later new cases are now hitting 200,000 a day (versus less than 30,000 a day when the lock downs started). Clearly, the lock…
President-elect Biden has promised to halt construction on the border wall when he takes office in January. He has also said that he will withdraw eminent domain lawsuits to seize property. While these are certainly positive steps, what about those who have lost their property to the border wall? Landowners across south Texas have had…
In the late 1970s, FedEx unveiled its slogan, “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.” Today, Amazon operates under a similar slogan: “When you absolutely, positively need it tomorrow.” But sometimes, tomorrow isn’t soon enough. Last weekend, I was preparing an Indian dinner for some friends. One of the dishes I wanted to…
Government programs and policies may help some low-income individuals survive, but they do not and cannot lift anyone from poverty. Only the protection of property rights enables individuals to improve their economic status, and this is particularly true of those who have little or no property. The right to property means the freedom to create,…
Defenders of lock downs often claim that individuals won’t do the “right” thing without such coercive measures. They believe that if individuals aren’t forced to stay home, many—if not most—will engage in irrational and irresponsible behavior. We must compel them to do the “right” thing. But when it comes to our individual lives, the right…
Many Americans wonder why some countries, such as China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea have dealt with the pandemic effectively while other nations are suffering massive deaths. This question was recently asked on Quora, and one response stated: It’s not rocket science. There is no mystery here. China isn’t doing anything that any other sensible…
A Florida attorney says that he is on a crusade for people with disabilities. Since 2018, about 750 lawsuits have been filed against Texas businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Douglas Shapiro has filed about half of those lawsuits. Shapiro and his group of activists have recently been targeting businesses in the Fort…
Writing for Forbes, Dr. Paul Hsieh notes that both the National Basketball Association and Disney World have been able to re-open and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The key was rigorous testing, contact tracing, and isolation of the infected. The economic self-interest of both organizations motivated them to take precautions for employees, vendors, guests,…
Dr. Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, offers President-elect Biden advice for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID-19 has demonstrated, new deadly viruses can spread quickly and easily around the globe, causing significant loss of life and economic ruin. With nearly 200 epidemics occurring each year, the…
For the past several years, a controversial highway expansion has pitted neighbors against one another in Collin County. The proposed plan will wipe out homes and encircle what are now quiet neighborhoods. While nearly everyone agrees that the expansion is needed, nobody wants it in their backyard. But as an article in D Magazine points…
In 2019 during her campaign to become the Democrat nominee for President, Sen. Elizabeth Warren promised to use the antitrust laws to reverse “illegal and anti-competitive tech mergers.” As examples, she cited Amazon’s merger with Whole Foods, Facebook’s merger with Instagram, and Google’s merger with DoubleClick. “To restore the balance of power in our democracy,”…
State Representative Ernest Bailes has pre-filed a bill that will allow property owners to file a complaint with the state over eminent domain misconduct. Bailes said, The process for landowners to file complaints and express their concerns should be clarified. The power of eminent domain should never be used as a threat, and those who…