Housing advocates are increasingly demanding more affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. They are doing this under the guise of “tenants’ rights.” But all individuals—including tenants—have rights. Specifically, they have the right to produce or earn more affordable housing. Like any value, housing must be produced. Like any value that one desires, one can…
In any discussion regarding public policy, we must consider the full context. In regard to affordable housing, the full context includes the choices that individuals make. Housing advocates conveniently ignore this issue. They point to poor families paying a large percentage of their income for housing, but fail to address the choices that have led…
All of us must make choices in life. All of us must choose the values that we believe will bring us happiness. We must choose the means for attaining those values. And we must also weigh the risks associated with our pursuit of those values. Infectious disease expert, Dr. Amesh Adalja addresses this issue in…
During the lockdown, businesses that were declared “non-essential” were prohibited from opening. In Texas, liquor stores were considered essential, but hair salons weren’t. By what standard was a business considered essential? Like many aspects of the lockdown, government officials weren’t very transparent regarding their criteria and standards. Instead, they issued dictates and expected the masses…
For more than six weeks, Americans have endured the hardship and uncertainty of a lock down. Millions of businesses have been forced to close, and many will never reopen. Tens of millions have lost their job, and with the closure of so many businesses, it will be difficult for many to find work. This unprecedented…
This morning, Harris County Judge Lina Hildago ordered all residents of the county to stay at home unless they have her permission to leave. Of course, Hildago didn’t have the intellectual honesty to put it that way. Instead, she justified her dictatorial mandate by claiming that it will save lives while ignoring the number of…
Yesterday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner shut down the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, an event that had an estimated economic impact of $227 million in 2019. David Persse, the city’s public health authority, said, We’re doing this to save lives. What we are trying to do through these very aggressive and, yes, painful decisions, is…
Last November, the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously upheld Seattle’s “first-come, first-served” ordinance. The law requires landlords to publicize their criteria when selecting tenants and then rent to the first qualified individual. Proponents of the ordinance claim that it provides equal treatment for all individuals. According to the Seattle Times, When landlords are allowed to…
“Progressives” who support a woman’s freedom to choose abortion to end an unwanted pregnancy often call themselves “pro-choice.” However, as is often the case with “Progressives, this self-assigned label is inaccurate and misleading. In fact, on many issues “Progressives” are vehemently anti-choice. A choice is the act of selecting from two or more alternatives. In…