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Principles and Eminent Domain
Calls for new laws regarding the use of eminent domain echo across the state. Rural land owners are finding their property seized to build pipelines and a railroad. In south Texas, property owners are facing seizure to build the border wall. While stating their support for property rights, many prominent Texas politicians have defended the…
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Conceding Moral Premises
Far too often, victims of government regulations concede the moral principles involved. They simply disagree with how the principle is applied. Take rancher Gary Stone as an example. Federal officials have determined that the New Mexico jumping mouse is an endangered species. To protect the rodent’s habitat, the government has closed access to some waterways…
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Divide and Conquer
Environmentalists like to talk about thinking globally but act locally. The point is to think about the big picture but act within one’s community to make a difference, and this has been an effective strategy. The flip side of this coin is to think locally and act without principles. This strategy focuses on the moment…
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Mussels and Muscles
Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Texas hornshell mussel as an endangered species. The action threatens access to water sources for ranchers in southeast New Mexico and west Texas. Landowners and businesses in the region are being asked to sign a “contract” that requires them to engage in conservation practices to…
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Ninotchka
Sadly, contemporary comedic movies usually offer us a boring combination of juvenile antics and crude language. Fortunately, when we want light-hearted entertainment, we are not limited to the offerings of modern film makers. Technology allows us to enjoy some the cinematic gems of the past. And Ninotchka is one of those gems. Greta Garbo is…
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Cornerstone of Liberty
Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America, by Timothy Sandefur and Christina Sandefur, presents a compelling story about the importance of property rights. Private property rights are not just dry abstractions of political philosophy. Nor is property a mere economic concept. Like the freedoms of speech or religion, private property affects our everyday…
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Local Control Means Local Tyranny
In the 2017 legislative session, Texas lawmakers sought to restrict the ability of local governments to violate property rights. Not surprisingly, local governments and the supporters of regulations pertaining to plastic bags, trees, short-term rentals, and more were upset. They argued that local governments should be allowed to enact the laws that their citizens want….
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