Like most conservatives, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claims to support property rights. And, like most conservatives, he carves out exceptions. In doing so, DeSantis and his fellow conservatives are negating the principle of property rights. As an example, DeSantis recently defended the use of eminent domain when it serves a “public purpose”: So sometimes you…
Is Property Harmful to Society? A recently published book by Rowan Moore, Property: The Myth That Built the World, argues that, while private property might benefit individuals, it is ultimately harmful to society. The book’s description on Amazon states that the book “offers hope for how things could be better, with reform that might enable…
A movement is underway to pressure the Biden Administration to waive global intellectual property (IP) rights to COVID vaccines developed in the United States. Such a waiver, the argument goes, would allow facilities around the world to begin making vaccines and saving lives. According to one commentator on the issue, “The only argument against lifting…
Many attempts to defend property rights are founded on the wrong premises. The result, unfortunately, is ultimately destructive to the cause. Consider an essay titled “A primer of private property” by Eric Schansberg, a professor of economics at Indiana University Southeast. The essay begins reasonably well, noting that property rights are important to all individuals….
In April 2020, the town council in Montclair, New Jersey, passed a rent control ordinance. The Montclair Property Owners Association (MPOA) launched a petition drive to submit the ordinance to a referendum. The town clerk refused to certify the petitions, but on February 22, 2021 a judge ordered the town council to repeal the ordinance…
Many libertarians and conservatives lament the constant violations of property rights. Sadly, they don’t realize that their attempts to defend property rights often do more harm than good. And that is because they often embrace the same premises as those attacking property rights. Consider a recent article by Brad Polumbo as an example. In the…
We frequently hear individuals claim that their property rights are being violated. It happens when the government uses eminent domain to seize property for the border wall. It happens when zoning is used to prohibit or severely restrict short-term rentals. It happens when a preservation ordinance is used to prohibit modern buildings. Yet, in these…
The political policies that we embrace and advocate today do more than impact our lives in the short-term. They impact and shape the lives of our children, grandchildren, and countless generations to come. If we make the right decisions, we can provide our children and grandchildren with freedom and opportunity. We can enable them to…
A new group has been formed to oppose the proposed bullet train between Dallas and Houston. ReRoute the Route–a coalition of land owners, elected officials and business leaders– is arguing that, “This project needs to be built right, using existing right of way and connecting to city centers; or not built at all.” In other…
Texans are quick to defend their own property rights, but they are often willing to turn a blind eye when the property rights of the “other guy” are violated. But if they aren’t willing to defend the property rights of the “other guy,” why should the “other guy” want to defend their property rights? For…
Atascosa County Farm Bureau President Pete Pawelek has called for reform of Texas’s eminent domain laws. He claims that current law “favors for-profit companies, giving landowners few options in a fight for their property.” Pawelek went on to say, Eminent domain is a necessary evil, but it should always be used as a last resort….
An Oakland couple was recently forced to pay $6,582 in order to reoccupy their own home. The military couple had been renting the house while stationed in Washington, D.C. An Oakland ordinance, passed in January of this year, requires landlords to pay tenants a “relocation” fee if the landlord wants to end a lease for…