For decades, we have witnessed the steady erosion of property rights across the United States. Zoning, eminent domain, business and environmental regulations, and much more are used as tools to slowly chip away at right to property. In this course, you will learn why common methods used to defend property rights are doomed to ultimately…
Advocates of historic preservation talk about preserving our heritage. They claim that the way to do this is to protect old buildings, usually through ordinances and other regulations. But a discussion of the issue must consider the full context, and that means a careful examination of what constitutes our heritage. Heritage refers to that which…
For decades, the Left has asserted that we have a right to a variety of values, from a “living wage” to education, from health care to high speed Internet access. In making these fallacious claims, they advocate violating actual rights. If we have a right to a particular value then the producers of that value…
In November, Austin City Council approved the Family Homestead Initiative. According to the Austin Monitor, Council Member Delia Garza, who sponsored the measure, said she wants to create a separate permitting process for homeowners because they shouldn’t have to contend with the same regulations as large developers. Reducing regulations is always a good thing and…
Each legislative session, government school financing is one of the most controversial issues on the agenda. And each legislative session, nearly every party involved—legislators, parents, teachers, and taxpayers—walks away unhappy. The controversy and dissatisfaction will continue unabated until fundamental reform of the educational system is enacted. About 90 percent of all children in Texas attend…
This week, Harris County approved new development regulations intended to reduce flooding. New homes in unincorporated areas of the county will have to be built to higher standards, including elevations that may be 8 feet higher than previously required. The new regulations will increase building costs by thousands of dollars, and come at a time…