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…
In the mass paranoia over COVID-19, supplies of surgical masks are being depleted as non-surgeons seek the false comfort of covering their mouth and nose. Of course, individuals should be free to engage in useless activities, but their use of surgical masks poses a potential threat to health care professionals. Some health care professionals are…
Yesterday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner shut down the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, an event that had an estimated economic impact of $227 million in 2019. David Persse, the city’s public health authority, said, We’re doing this to save lives. What we are trying to do through these very aggressive and, yes, painful decisions, is…
With the hysteria over COVID-19 increasing daily, a growing number of individuals around the world are demanding that governments do more to stop the pandemic. Many governments are responding by quarantining those who test positive for the virus. Italy has suspended all sporting events until April 3. While these measures may make some people feel…
After voting on Super Tuesday, Bernie Sanders told reporters that he was building a broad coalition fighting for justice. Such words are common for Leftists, and the gullible find them inspiring. But Sanders is not fighting for justice. He is on a crusade for injustice. Justice is the virtue of granting to individuals that which…
During the past several sessions of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers have tried to slap down numerous local ordinances that they correctly say violate property rights. Laws protecting trees, restricting banning short-term rentals, and bans on plastic bags have been among their targets. As we have previously written, it is proper for the legislature to prohibit…
In January, an explosion at a metal fabricating facility in Houston killed two workers and damaged hundreds of nearby buildings and homes. The tragedy has provided some with a renewed zeal to point out the alleged dangers of Houston’s lack of zoning. One Houstonian was quoted in an AP story: I feel like it needs…
Last November, the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously upheld Seattle’s “first-come, first-served” ordinance. The law requires landlords to publicize their criteria when selecting tenants and then rent to the first qualified individual. Proponents of the ordinance claim that it provides equal treatment for all individuals. According to the Seattle Times, When landlords are allowed to…
“Progressives” who support a woman’s freedom to choose abortion to end an unwanted pregnancy often call themselves “pro-choice.” However, as is often the case with “Progressives, this self-assigned label is inaccurate and misleading. In fact, on many issues “Progressives” are vehemently anti-choice. A choice is the act of selecting from two or more alternatives. In…
In the previous three posts, we have examined the fear many Texans have of the Californiazation of their state. While there is some legitimacy to this concern, it doesn’t address the fundamental issue. California is being destroyed because most Californians believe it proper and just to impose the values of the majority upon individuals. As…
In the previous two posts, we have seen that animosity towards immigrants from California or elsewhere is misplaced. Immigrants aren’t the problem. Bad ideas are. And bad ideas can only be combatted with good ideas. Both America and Texas were founded on the principle of individual rights—the freedom of each individual to live his life…