Similar Posts
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…
The Actor Doesn’t Change the Principle
If someone broke into your home and stole your jewelry, electronics, cash, and anything else that is yours, you would regard his action as theft. He took your property without your consent. The principle doesn’t change just because the actor has a government badge and doesn’t literally break into your home. Taxation takes your money…
Property Rights and Natural Monopolies, Part 2
The following is an excerpt from The Innovator Versus the Collective. If we want continued innovation and progress, we must remove the barriers and prohibitions on competition. We must repeal the regulations and controls that restrict innovators and producers. This means allowing innovators and businesses to use their property as they judge best. This is…
Judge Rules for “Property Protest Rights”
Last week, a Travis County District Court judge voided two Austin City Council votes to rewrite the city’s land-use regulations. The ruling found that city council had not provided adequate notice of public hearings to property owners impacted by the new regulations. In doing so, the judge found that owner’s “property protest rights” were not…
An Eminent Domain Debate by Non-essentials
A recent “debate” on San Angelo Live! provides an illuminating example of focusing on non-essential issues when discussing property rights issues. On August 6, Brian McLaughlin, a director at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, wrote a piece that claimed: Unfortunately, landowners facing the threat of eminent domain stand little chance of being treated…
I Don’t Need Ted Cruz
ByjbpLast week, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was spotted on an airplane. Normally, this wouldn’t attract attention from the media, social or otherwise. However, Cruz was leaving Texas just days before a winter storm was about to do nasty things to the state. And this didn’t sit well with some on social media. One user wrote,…