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To Nullify Contractual Agreements
The beginning of the headline was intriguing: “New law protects Hoosier property rights…” The second clause of the headline—”…makes it harder for HOAs to say no to solar”—set the stage for a grand disappointment. The law does not protect property rights. What the law does do is nullify contractual agreements between neighbors. Homeowner associations (HOAs)…
Creating Values and HEB
The right to property means the freedom to create, use, keep, trade, and dispose of values. The ways in which this can be done are limited only by human imagination. Last week, I experienced the creation of value in a way that I would have never imagined, but somebody else did. And I appreciate it….
When All You have is a Hammer
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. In other words, if you have only one tool, you try to use it for everything. In part, this adage explains government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Government has only one tool—force. Every tool has a proper use. A screwdriver is great for…
The Role of Government in a Pandemic
The proper purpose of government is the protection of individual rights, including property rights. The proper purpose of government is to protect the freedom of individuals to act on their own judgment, so long as they respect the freedom of others to do the same. Government’s purpose does not change in a pandemic. The role…
Dropping Context 1
Many pundits are claiming that the state’s power problems this week show the failure of fossil fuels. These pundits are guilty of dropping context–of looking at isolated facts. But if we want to make rational policy decisions, we must consider the full context. We must look at all of the relevant facts. And the facts…
Low-income Individuals Need Property Rights
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,…