The Roundup 9

ByBrian Phillips

The Guardian has an article on the border wall that touches on a deeper, and equally divisive issue: drug prohibition. A former customs agent is quoted: ” “You got to ask yourself: why are all the drugs and illegal immigrants coming through? Why? Because of the demand for illegal drugs and illegal labour, not much different from Al Capone and prohibition.”

______

Last week, the Texas Senate passed an eminent domain reform bill. While the bill will not protect property rights, it will mitigate some abuses of the process and is a step in the right direction.

______

TribTalk has a very good article about the injustice of business regulations. The article focuses on three examples from very different industries. It is worth reading.

Many food trucks are completely banned from working on South Padre Island, the craft brewers are collectively losing millions, while Mbogo faced thousands in fines.

Similar Posts

  • The Roundup 1

    ByBrian Phillips

    Mismatched Curtains Sometimes, the inanity of government regulations knows no bounds. As an example, Mildred Bryant, a resident of Pagedale, Missouri, was fined for having mismatched curtains. This might seem absurd, and it is, but in principle it is no different from hundreds of other regulations that control how individuals use their property. For example,…

  • |

    The Roundup 8

    ByBrian Phillips

    The hypocrisy of many Republicans regarding the use of eminent domain to build Trump’s border wall has been pointed out by many. Sen. Michael Bennet (D–Colo.), recently took them to task on the floor of the Senate. ___ Texas legislators have introduced two bills that would allow property owners to be compensated for diminished property…

  • |

    Friday Roundup 5-14-21

    ByBrian Phillips

    One of the latest trends in the “tenants’ rights” movement is to provide free legal representation for tenants facing eviction. Washington state has passed such a law and other states are considering doing so. As with nearly everything associated with “housing justice,” these laws will ultimately create a host of new problems. As one example,…

  • Friday Roundup 9-10-21

    ByBrian Phillips

    In April, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act. The bill would “invest” $172 billion over 10 years to upgrade over 950,000 public housing units. When the bill was announced, Sanders said, “It is unacceptable that our nation’s public housing is in a state of chronic disrepair and…

  • Friday Roundup 11-12-21

    ByBrian Phillips

    City council members in Denver recently became the latest legislative body to demonstrate that a basic knowledge of economics is not necessary to hold an elected office. The council is considering a proposal to require that all new housing developments include below market-rate units in the project. The proposal would also increase the “affordable housing…