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Deed Restrictions Versus Property Rights?
Last Friday, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that short-term rentals are not a commercial use of property. The case involved a home owner association that claimed short-term rentals were a commercial use and violated its deed restrictions (also called covenants). Patrick Sutton, the home owner’s lawyer, said, This is about as strong of a property…
Protecting the Weak by Shackling the Strong
Many critics of opening the economy claim that it means sacrificing the weak. The truth is, not opening the economy means sacrificing the strong–those who can and produce the values that all of us–weak and strong alike–want and need. Regardless of our risk level, we must consume values in order to live. And before values…
It’s All About Property Rights
Ayn Rand correctly wrote that without property rights, no other rights are possible. And the reason is, it’s all about property rights. The right to property means the freedom to produce, trade, and use material values. If you are like most people, the bulk of your waking hours are spent producing, trading, or using material…
The Importance of Real Alternatives, Part 1
If we examine virtually any controversial political issue, we often find that we are presented with false alternatives. This fallacy consists of asserting that we must choose between a limited number of alternatives when other, unmentioned alternatives exist. As an example, when a Christian baker refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding, and…
When Tenants Become Vigilantes
When cases of COVID-19 began to rise in March, governments responded to the crisis by ordering businesses to close. When millions lost their job and were unable to pay the rent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) responded to that crisis by imposing a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent. But the…
Nothing More than a Slogan
Once again, Republicans are demonstrating that “property rights” is nothing more than a slogan to be used to attract votes. They are proposing legislation that will “crackdown” on corporate landlords through heavy taxation or similar penalties. The right to property means the freedom to produce, use, and trade material values, including housing. Imposing penalties on…