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An Agency of Force
Government is an agency of force. Everything it does is ultimately backed by physical coercion. Government dictates how much you should pay in taxes. Refuse to do so and somebody with a gun will show up to seize your property, throw you in jail, or both. In most locales, government dictates how you can use…
A Carrot is Better than a Stick
When we have a disagreement with another person, we have two options. We can attempt to change his mind by offering facts and explanations, or we can use force. We can appeal to reason, or we can threaten harm. Unfortunately, a growing number of policy discussions resort to the latter. Consider housing policies as an…
“Predators” and Printing Presses
ByjbpThis was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 8, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. Apparently unable to go more than two days without an editorial calling for more government intervention, the Chronicle now wants more regulations on “payday lenders”–companies that offer short-term loans at high interest rates. In recent years, the payday lending…
Discrimination is a Property Right (and a Necessity)
A Washington state court recently struck down a Seattle ordinance that forced landlords to rent to the next tenant in line if that individual met the landlord’s minimum standards. In short, once the landlord set minimum standards, he could not discriminate on the basis of anything else. The Washington court ruled that this constituted a…
Tenants have Always had Rights
Housing advocates are increasingly calling for laws to protect the rights of tenants. But the fact is, tenants have always had rights. New laws protecting “tenants’ rights” will ultimately lead to the destruction of the rights of all individuals, including tenants. The Declaration of Independence declares that all individuals are endowed with certain rights, namely,…
Government Force vs. Personal Choice
ByjbpThis was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 7, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. Advocates of government regulations often argue that government intervention is necessary to protect consumers from unscrupulous businesses. They ignore the many ways that individuals can make informed decisions and protect themselves from fraud and similar practices. An interesting example…