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The “Community Good” and Property Rights
ByjbpThis was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 12, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. We are often told that property rights must occasionally be sacrificed for the “common good”. One local blogger repeats this claim, noting that city officials must wage a constant balancing act between the two: This central dilemma is the…
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,…
The Age of Cronyism
In recent years, individuals from across the political spectrum have condemned cronyism. Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, once remarked that she felt sad “for the American people, who have had their lives affected by the culture of cronyism and corruption that exists in Washington.” Current Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, similarly denounced…
The Enemies of Property Rights: Civil Asset Forfeiture
In 2014, Philadelphia police seized the home of Christos and Markela Sourovelis. Their son, who lived with them, had been arrested for selling forty dollars of drugs. The Sourovelises were kicked out of their home, the doors were screwed shut, and the utilities were cut off. Though they had done nothing wrong, they were homeless…
Giving Thanks to Big Pharma
This week, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, a body established by the World Health Organization, released a paper that argues that “global health has been ‘left hostage’ to Big Pharma.” Such a claim equates the actions of pharmaceutical companies with the actions of kidnappers. This is a grossly unjust accusation. A kidnapper…