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The Ends do not Justify the Means
We are often told, whether implicitly or explicitly, that the ends justify the means. Modern politics is founded on this premise. A goal that many find desirable is announced, and a campaign is launched to pass a law or regulation to achieve that goal. What is frequently ignored is that these laws and regulations compel…
A Conflict of “Rights”
Last week, the Trump Administration allowing employers to quit offering no-cost birth control as a part of employee insurance policies. According to the Houston Chronicle, reaction was swift and divided: “President Trump is demonstrating his commitment to undoing the anti-faith policies of the previous administration and restoring true religious freedom,” said Tony Perkins, president of…
Principles, Politics, and Planning, Part 3
The purported goal of land-use regulations, such as Austin’s CodeNext, is to plan the development within a community. On the surface, this seems like a reasonable goal. After all, we are often told that a business that fails to plan is a business that is planning to fail. But government isn’t a business. Governments and…
Conflicting Values?
With the 2019 legislative session just a few months away, the proposed bullet train between Dallas and Houston is once again gaining increased attention. In both 2015 and 2017, both opponents and supporters of the project descended on Austin to argue their positions. To many, the bullet train represents a conflict of values. For example,…
Negating the Principle of Property Rights
Like most conservatives, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claims to support property rights. And, like most conservatives, he carves out exceptions. In doing so, DeSantis and his fellow conservatives are negating the principle of property rights. As an example, DeSantis recently defended the use of eminent domain when it serves a “public purpose”: So sometimes you…