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Local Control Means Local Tyranny
In the 2017 legislative session, Texas lawmakers sought to restrict the ability of local governments to violate property rights. Not surprisingly, local governments and the supporters of regulations pertaining to plastic bags, trees, short-term rentals, and more were upset. They argued that local governments should be allowed to enact the laws that their citizens want….
The “Right” to a Value
For decades, we have been told that individuals have a “right” to certain values, such as an education, a “living wage,” and health care. Such claims ignore the meaning of the concept right. Rights pertain to action–the freedom to take the actions one deems appropriate. The right to free speech means the freedom to express…
Plato’s War on Houston: From Zoning to “SmartCode”
ByjbpThis was originally posted as a series on Live Oaks in September 2009. Comments have not been migrated. That is what I mean when I say that “right” is the same thing in all states, namely the interest of the established government; and government is the strongest element in each state, and so if we…
The Enemies of Property Rights: Eminent Domain
The term “eminent domain” was taken from a legal treatise written by the Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius in 1625. He used the term dominium eminens (Latin for supreme lordship) and described the power as follows: The property of subjects is under the eminent domain of the state, so that the state or those who act…
Should We Allow STRs?
A recent article about short-term rentals (STRs) in Corpus Christi begins with the question: “Should companies like Airbnb be allowed to do business in Corpus Christi?” The principle underlying that question poses a threat to every productive individual. Individual rights protect our freedom to act as we judge best, so long as we respect the…
Common Errors in Defending Property Rights, Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, we examined why the claim that a proposal will violate property rights often falls on deaf ears. In this post, we will examine a similar error in defending property rights. Often, when a proposal is made that will violate property rights, the victims state that they support the general…