A new organization, Defend Texas, is pointing out the hypocrisy of some Texas politicians who proclaim support for property rights. As we have previously pointed out, Texas politicians were vehemently opposed to the use of eminent domain along the Red River, but have supported (or remained silent) seizing private property along the Rio Grande. Defend…
In October 2017, Anthonia Nwaorie was about to board a plane in Houston. The nurse was going to fly to Nigeria with medical equipment, supplies, and $41,000 in cash to open a medical clinic in her hometown. However, Customs and Border Protection officials had other plans for her. They detained her, subjected to hours of…
The latest craze among Leftists is to accuse individuals of “cultural appropriation.” According to Wikipedia, “Cultural appropriation is a concept in sociology dealing with the adoption of the elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture.” For example, if an Anglo opens a taco truck, he is guilty of “cultural appropriation.” (Two…
This is an excerpt from Individual Rights and Government Wrongs. Perhaps no government institution is the object of more jokes and frustration than the United States Postal Service (USPS). Long lines, surly clerks, and “going postal” draw the ridicule of patrons and late-night comedians. Yet, despite the complaints and jokes, any suggestion that the USPS…
In recent years, much controversy has arisen over companies such as Airbnb and Uber. These two companies are the poster boys of the “sharing economy”–a technological revolution that has allowed millions to become successful entrepreneurs. City governments (as well as some state and national governments) have fought back and enacted a multitude of restrictions and…
With the 2019 legislative session less than a year away, we are already hearing the opening salvos of another debate over funding government schools. Invariably, the article, blog post, or editorial calls for more money for this program or that. The funding of government schools has been a contentious political issue for decades. As has…
In the last Texas legislative session, great controversy erupted over Austin’s attempts to reign in local governments. Bills were introduced to prohibit local controls over plastic bags, trees, short-term rentals, and more. Local governments claimed that these efforts by the state usurped their authority. A similar controversy has erupted in California. California State Senator Scott…
In “honor” of May Day, the socialist holiday celebrating the destruction of property rights, I offer Chapter 1 of Principles and Property Rights for free. Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people sharing all the world. John Lennon, “Imagine” We…
A lot of noise is being made about censorship on social media platforms such as Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter. Many are claiming that these companies are engaging in censorship when they remove or limit certain content. The truth is, no private company can engage in censorship. Censorship is a legal prohibition on the expression…
The Texas Monthly has an excellent article on the hypocrisy of Texas politicians who proclaim their support for property rights. In the article, the magazine notes that many prominent conservatives–Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Gregg Abbott, and Ken Paxton–fought the federal government when it sought to use eminent domain to seize property along the Red River…
In 2015, Texas Central Partners announced that it had secured funding to move forward with a proposed high-speed railroad between Houston and Dallas. The project, which according to the company’s website will be funded by private investors, has attracted many opponents and generated great controversy, particularly among rural land owners along the proposed route. Opponents…
In the 1970s, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) developed a program to allow students to transfer to a school outside of their neighborhood. The goal was to integrate the district’s schools. A recent article in the Houston Chronicle provides an interesting lesson about school choice and the motives of the media. According to the…