The No Kings protests are organized to protest the authoritarian and increasingly dictatorial policies of the Trump Administration. This is a laudable purpose, but no kings is not enough. Tyranny comes in many forms, such as monarchy, socialism, communism, and fascism. Despite superficial differences, all forms of tyranny have one thing in common: the subjugation…
I recently wrote about the proclivity of Californians to vote on seemingly every issue under the sun, often resulting in rights-violating laws. Unfortunately, rule by the will of the mob is not limited to California. While the rate of infection varies, no state is immune to the toxicity of mob rule. A recent example comes…
Joe Biden recently condemned “far-right extremism,” calling comments made by Republican leaders, including Trump, “semi-fascism.” Biden is correct to identify the growing elements of fascism within the Republican party. However, he fails to recognize the fascist elements within his own policies. Biden and Trump are two faces of fascism. In an article titled, “The Fascist…
Last November, voters in St. Paul approved the most stringent rent control law in the nation. This past week, a Minnesota Senator introduced a bill that would repeal that law and prohibit other municipalities from imposing rent control. This is an appropriate bill because rights, including property rights, are not subject to a vote. The…
Writing for the socialist magazine, Jacobin, Luke Savage complains about what he calls “corporate tyranny over local governments.” Florida legislators are considering two bills that would allow businesses to sue local governments when they suffer economic damage from an ordinance. This is what Savage calls corporate tyranny. He admits, [I]t’s arguably quite hard to think…
In previous posts we have seen how the “right” to choose asserted by housing advocates leads to the destruction of freedom of choice, how the “right” to stay is an assault on voluntary action, and how the “right” to equal treatment is a demand for injustice. In this post, we will examine the fourth “right”:…
In the previous three posts, we have examined the fear many Texans have of the Californiazation of their state. While there is some legitimacy to this concern, it doesn’t address the fundamental issue. California is being destroyed because most Californians believe it proper and just to impose the values of the majority upon individuals. As…
In the previous two posts, we have seen that animosity towards immigrants from California or elsewhere is misplaced. Immigrants aren’t the problem. Bad ideas are. And bad ideas can only be combatted with good ideas. Both America and Texas were founded on the principle of individual rights—the freedom of each individual to live his life…
For years, Californians have been fleeing the high taxes, outrageous housing costs, stifling business regulations, and general political climate of the state. And Texas has been one of the most popular destinations. While Texans are generally a pretty friendly bunch, many aren’t eager to welcome those fleeing California. Such Texans fear that these immigrants will…
Regressives (they call themselves “Progressives”) have long opposed the system of limited government established by the drafters of the Constitution. As one example, the Seventeenth Amendment, which established direct elections of United States Senators, was ratified in 1913 at the height of the first “Progressive” movement. Prior to that time, Senators were selected by each…
Rent control has long been presented as a way to keep housing affordable. By forcing landlords to charge below market rates, rental housing is supposedly more affordable. But like any form of price cap, rent control ultimately leads to a lower supply of housing. However, this fact is irrelevant to many. Indeed, next week voters…
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….