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America is now Venezuela
For years, Americans watched in horror as Venezuela steadily descended from Latin America’s most prosperous nation to abject poverty. Many wondered, how could this happen? The essential reason is: The Venezuelan government, led first by Hugo Chavez and then by Nicholas Maduro, seized control of the nation’s production and trade. Beginning in 1999, the government…
Eminent Domain versus Innovation
Once again, eminent domain has erupted into a political controversy in Texas. In its latest manifestation, Kinder Morgan proposes to build a 430-mile pipeline from West Texas to a suburb of Houston. As a “common carrier,” Kinder Morgan can use eminent domain to acquire access to the land needed to build the pipeline. Certainly, pipelines…
Cracking Down on Contractors
ByjbpThis was originally posted on Live Oaks on November 12, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I have recently stumbled across a number of stories regarding various states cracking down on unlicensed contractors. In several of these stories the state set up a sting to attract contractors to bid on a job, and then arrested…
An Open Letter to the National Butterfly Center
When an individual takes property without the owner’s consent, it is called theft. When a group of individuals does this, it is called organized crime. When the government does this, it is called eminent domain. The destruction of your property to build the border wall is an example of government hypocrisy at its worse. We…
It’s for Your Own Good
A quiet movement is underway in Texas to reform the state’s mineral laws. The proposed reform would force owners to “pool” their resources. Pooling is the joining together or a combination of small tracts or portions of tracts for the purpose of having sufficient acreage to receive a well drilling permit under the relevant state…
Let’s Be Honest
ByjbpThis was originally posted on Live Oaks on January 11, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. Last Friday KPRC reported that Stages Repertory Theatre owes the city more than $350,000 in back rent. In an amazing display of evasion, both the city and the reporter ignored the facts of the situation. The report calls Stages…