Education in America is a virtual monopoly of the government. As such, it is a highly politicized topic and controversy surrounds nearly every discussion about education. From funding to curriculum, from test scores to text books, there is little agreement between politicians, educators, taxpayers, and parents about how the nation’s schools should be operated and the…
For decades, legislative bodies have enacted laws that prohibit businesses and landlords from discriminating against an ever-growing list of individuals, such as ethnic and racial minorities, women, gays, the handicapped, and more recently, transgender individuals. Like many other issues involving the violation of property rights, anti-discrimination legislation is founded on fuzzy and imprecise thinking. It…
Texans are quick to defend their own property rights, but they are often willing to turn a blind eye when the property rights of the “other guy” are violated. But if they aren’t willing to defend the property rights of the “other guy,” why should the “other guy” want to defend their property rights? For…
Environmental regulations are intended to minimize human impact on nature. But we must transform nature into the values that sustain and enhance our lives. Minimizing our impact on nature means minimizing our pursuit of values, our quality of life, and individual flourishing. It means reducing our ability to live. Nature has value, but only in…
Two of the stated purposes of zoning are preventing “incompatible” land uses and protecting neighborhoods. Both of these issues can be addressed without the coercive means of zoning. Deed restrictions (or covenants) provide the means to limit land uses through voluntary, contractual means—by respecting property rights, and hence, preserving the freedom to choose. Deed restrictions attach…
The curriculum in government schools is chosen and dictated by government officials. The textbooks used in government schools are chosen by government officials. The ideas taught in government schools, and the vast majority of Texas schoolchildren attend government schools, are determined by government officials. Parents who disagree with those ideas often have no viable alternatives…
When legislators convene in Austin next week, reducing the tax burden on property owners will be near the top of the to-do list. But no matter what schemes that lawmakers concoct, we can be certain that fundamental reform won’t occur. Government schools in Texas are funded primarily through property taxes. State officials will be faced…
A recent editorial in the Austin American-Statesman called for legislators to enact “common-sense” reforms of the state’s civil asset forfeiture laws. The editorial correctly notes that Gov. Greg Abbott and many Republican lawmakers have trumpeted the cause of private property rights when it comes to annexation, fracking bans or local tree ordinances, yet they have…
The upcoming legislative Texas legislative session promises to include another battle between the state and local governments. Lawmakers have already introduced or plan to introduce bills to reign in local ordinances regarding mandated sick pay, regulations on short-term rentals, and local increases in property taxes. Municipal governments claim that such actions on the part of…
President Trump has argued that his proposed border wall is necessary to protect the nation’s security. Sadly, the wall presents a much graver risk to the security of Americans than the immigrants the wall will allegedly stop. The federal government has been using eminent domain to acquire the land needed to build the wall. The…
In September, the Austin American-Statesman published a three-part series on the growing conflict between the owners of some short-term rentals (STRs) and their neighbors. While the series was intended to demonstrate the need for more stringent enforcement of Austin’s STR regulations, it unwittingly demonstrated a more fundamental issue: the lack of principles underlying the entire…
In early December, Minneapolis enacted an extensive reduction in the city’s zoning laws by eliminating single-family zoning. Developers will soon be able to build more densely, thereby reducing housing costs. Economically, zoning is a disaster. Zoning designates a particular use for each parcel of land. By its very nature zoning reduces the supply of land…