Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a supporter of school choice, has suggested that rural school districts be “bracketed out” of any school choice program. While such a policy might win some support from rural legislators, “bracketing out” is unprincipled. Patrick has said that school choice is a part of parental freedom, stating that “parents deserve…
In 2015, Hennepin County, Minnesota, seized a condominium for $15,000 in unpaid property taxes. A year later, the condominium was sold for $40,000. The county kept all of the money in an act that many call home equity theft. The condo owner sued and the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled for…
Iowa Gov. Kimberly Reynolds has proposed a number of education reforms that promise more choices for parents and students. She proposes giving families the state’s share of per-student spending if they opt out of government schools. The money could be used for private schools, tutoring textbooks, and more. After coming close to passing a school…
From Britain comes an interesting, though implicit, admission that Leftists do not value the producers. Vicky Spratt, the “housing correspondent” for i (an online newspaper published by the Daily Mail), calls for a housing strike. She argues that strikes force all of us–those in power and those who take the train or use the NHS…
Early in the pandemic, Los Angeles (along with many other cities around the country) enacted an eviction moratorium. That moratorium is set to expire at the end of this month, nearly three years after it was first imposed on landlords. The Los Angeles Times opines that the city should continue existing “tenant protections” and add…
Many opponents of school choice argue that government schools are the lifeblood of many rural communities. School choice will be harmful to those communities as students leave the government school system. However, if we look at reality—what has actually happened—we get a much different picture. Florida has had a school choice program for twenty years….
The Daily Caller reports that the Ector County (Texas) Independent School District’s (ECISD) Board of Trustees has vowed to “oppose the development of voucher programs or any action similar in name or nature.” This declaration comes less than two months after 91 percent of voters in the county approved a proposition that supports parents’ “right…
On January 1, in response to rapidly rising housing costs, it became illegal for most foreigners to purchase a home in Canada. Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s website proclaimed that “homes are for people, not investors.” According to Trudeau, investors are nothing more than greedy individuals who put profits before people. Not surprisingly, nothing…
Gambling and vouchers promise to be two hotly debated topics in the 2023 session of the Texas legislature. Legislators have filed several bills to expand gambling in the state, as well as bills to create a voucher program. Texas Baptists are opposing both efforts. Interestingly, they claim that education vouchers violate religious liberty and the…
Santa Ana recently became the first city in Orange County, California to enact rent control. The city plans to create a registry of all rental properties in the city. Landlords are required to register their properties with the city and pay an annual fee. Apparently, Santa Ana public officials have been drinking the Kool-Aid of…
In recent years, city governments have increasingly turned to a process called amortization to allegedly stimulate development and economic growth. However, given the fact that amortization necessarily destroys existing businesses, that claim is a mere pretense. In truth, amortization is a declaration by city officials that they don’t like the business. Amortization occurs when a…
What if there were no government regulations? What if there were no public schools, public libraries, or public parks? What if there were no labor laws, minimum wage laws, or prohibitions on discrimination? How would government function if it did not force you to pay for its services? If you are like most Americans, you…