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The Choices We Make
In any discussion regarding public policy, we must consider the full context. In regard to affordable housing, the full context includes the choices that individuals make. Housing advocates conveniently ignore this issue. They point to poor families paying a large percentage of their income for housing, but fail to address the choices that have led…
Let’s Encourage Real Local Control
In recent years, Texas cities (as well as those across the nation) have embarked on a campaign of “local control.” Companies like Uber and Airbnb have upset the traditional regulatory environment. Adding to the mix are energetic citizens calling for bans on plastic bags, regulations on trees, and protection for historic buildings. Local governments are…
Lessons From Fighting Zoning
This post is the fifth in a series. In the past two posts, I have summarized my experiences while fighting zoning in two different cities—Houston, and Hobbs, New Mexico. I learned many things from those efforts. Perhaps the most important lesson was that when clear moral distinctions are made between opposing views, the more rational…
Rent Control is Fascism
During the reign of Donald Trump, it was fashionable to compare him to Adolf Hitler. Trump certainly exhibited dictator-like characteristics, but that comparison was used to mask policies that are much more consistent with Hitler. For example, rent control is fascism. In recent years, rent control has become more popular as a means for keeping…
Promoting a Free Market with Coercion
For months, conservatives have been increasing their calls to use the antitrust laws against Big Tech. These calls are filled with contradictions, such as the claim that Facebook, Twitter, and other tech companies are endangering free speech by blocking conservative content. Another contradiction is expressed by Will Chamberlain, publisher of Human Events. Chamberlain writes that…
Enforcement vs. Prohibition
In cities across Texas (and the country) local politicians are imposing severe restrictions and outright bans on short-term rentals (STRs). When neighbors of STRs complain about noise, traffic, and other nuisances, city officials respond with controls and regulations rather than enforcement of existing laws. In most locales, there are laws that address loud noise, trash…