A Georgia legislator has publicly stated what is often implied by those defending paternalistic government policies. The short version is that some people are too stupid to make decisions about their own lives. Government officials know what is best for you, and they will force you to act accordingly. During a hearing regarding a school…
In February, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu unveiled a rent control plan. Wu’s proposal quickly drew criticism. Real estate interests oppose the plan, while Leftists argue that it isn’t strong enough. This is shaping up to be a classic example of how the Left shifts the debate. Wu’s proposal allows for rent increases of 6 percent…
Politicians, pundits, and housing activists have offered a variety of policies for making housing more affordable. While many admit that building affordable housing for low-income households isn’t profitable, virtually nobody recognizes the fact that the profit motive is the solution to the housing crisis. A statement from the president of the National Multifamily Housing Council…
Unhappy with what is being taught to their children in government schools, parents across the country are calling on legislators to enact or expand programs that give them more education choices. Interestingly, a growing number of black families are opting out of government schools because of what isn’t being taught. In 2020, the number of…
Imagine for a moment the reaction if the State of Texas decided to open government grocery stores. What if the Texas Grocery Agency determined what products would be on the shelves? What if the cost of groceries purchased at those stores was subsidized by imposing a tax on property owners? What if Texans were assigned…
In defending her rent control proposal, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said, “The status quo is not working.” She is correct. However, her solution to the problems caused by forcing individuals to act contrary to their own judgment is to force individuals to act contrary to their own judgment. Zoning laws serve as one example. In…
Altruism can raise its ugly head in myriad, and often surprising, ways. An example comes from, Desiree Lim, an assistant professor of philosophy at Penn State. In an article titled “The ethics of home ownership in an age of growing inequality,” she asserts that “[h]omebuyers also have ethical obligations to others.” Lim goes on to…
An interesting story comes from Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Last May, the city council voted to deny permission for a mixed-use development. At the time, the city’s mayor claimed that the project did not comply with Sugar Land’s comprehensive plan (i.e., zoning laws). Now, the city wants to spend taxpayer money to…
In December 2021, sheriff’s deputies in Fort Bend County, Texas, arrested Justin Pulliam for interfering with a police officer. Justin had been filming the officers while they made a mental-health call. He was located 130 feet from the scene, where other bystanders were also watching what was happening. With the help of the Institute for…
When Gov. Greg Abbott recently iterated his support for school choice, the state’s teacher’s union argued that school choice already exists in Texas. However, there is a vast difference between the “choices” the union points to and true freedom of choice. For example, one former teacher said, The reality is there’s already a choice. Lubbock…
The opponents of rent control rarely take a moral stand on the issue. They fail to identify rent control as a violation of the right to property—the freedom to produce and trade. Instead, they focus on economic arguments. Rent control, they say, discourages the production of housing and makes maintenance more difficult. While these arguments…
President Biden recently provided an “accidental endorsement” of school choice. In an attempt to criticize Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education policies, Biden tweeted, I think every kid, in every zip code, in every state should have access to every education opportunity possible. I guess, for some, that isn’t the consensus view. Biden is correct that…