Leftists often argue that home ownership is essentially the same as a rent-controlled apartment. While the details of their argument might vary, they advance this claim in an attempt to make rent control more palatable. They want us to believe that, if home ownership is desirable, rent control should be as well. Home ownership, they…
Critics of school choice programs often argue that taxpayer money shouldn’t be used for private schooling. Such arguments evade the fact that parents are taxpayers too. Taxpayer money does not magically appear in government coffers. It is money that has been taken from individuals and businesses. It is money taken from parents and non-parents alike….
An editorial in the school paper for the University of Texas at Arlington provides an interesting example of the types of conclusions that can result when one drops context. The editorial, which opposes school choice, argues that without education standards imposed by government officials, parents will be given the responsibility of holding schools accountable. Without…
Advocates of government schools often point out that Texas has a constitutional requirement to provide education for all. Article 7, Section 1 of the state constitution declares: A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the…
Landlords have long been an object of derision. The ongoing affordable housing crisis has only exacerbated the attacks. Landlords are called greedy and negligent. It is argued that they put profits before people. All of this is intended to make it acceptable to hate landlords. Now, CNN informs us, landlords are also guilty of hate…
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against Amazon alleging that the company has engaged in “anti-competitive” activities. But before we can evaluate the legitimacy of this claim, we must first be clear about what it means to be anti-competitive. Unfortunately, anti-trust laws don’t provide us with that clarification. Instead, they are a mish-mash…
Those engaged in policy debates often make arbitrary assertions. The arbitrary can take many different forms, but it always includes a claim with no reference to actual facts. It is an assertion without evidence to validate it. Because it has no cognitive value, we should reject the arbitrary out of hand. An example comes from…
When a landlord raises the rent, he is often accused of profiteering—making an “excessive” or “unfair” profit. Those making such claims seldom present any evidence, other than pointing out that some corporate landlords generate billions in revenue. However, revenue is only one factor in determining profitability. Expenses—insurance, maintenance, mortgage payments, and property taxes—must also be…
An opinion piece in the Marin Independent Journal in California provides an interesting example why the Left keeps winning policy debates. The article states, All landlords are human and some humans are more concerned about profits than people. Because of this, I happen to believe that some rent control is a good thing. Though the…
No decent person wants to see others struggle to afford safe, decent housing. But this does not mean that we should embrace any policy—such as rent control—that keeps rents more affordable. The means are not justified by the ends. In evaluating any issue, we must consider the full context—all of the relevant information. If we…
The critics of school choice programs often point out that most parents are satisfied with their local government school. Most polls find that 70 percent or more of parents believe their child is receiving an adequate education. This means that 30 percent of parents aren’t satisfied with their child’s government school. Those parents want alternatives…
A reader recently asked why an organization that defends property rights is interested in school choice. The reason is: school choice is a property rights issue. The right to property means the freedom to produce, trade, and use material values as one deems best. For producers, this means the freedom to produce a product or…