We are frequently confronted with claims that LGBT rights are under attack by conservatives. There is a problem with this claim, and the problem is: There is no such thing as LGBT rights. There are only individual rights, and they apply to all individuals, including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, and heterosexuals. The problem with any…
For decades, we have been told that individuals have a “right” to certain values, such as an education, a “living wage,” and health care. Such claims ignore the meaning of the concept right. Rights pertain to action–the freedom to take the actions one deems appropriate. The right to free speech means the freedom to express…
A major source of political animosity and controversy today is the belief that the rights of individuals occasionally conflict. The issue then becomes whose “rights” will be protected and whose rights will be thrown under the bus. As an example, last week the Corpus Christi Caller-Times published an editorial supporting restrictions and bans on vaping…
A recent article about short-term rentals (STRs) in Corpus Christi begins with the question: “Should companies like Airbnb be allowed to do business in Corpus Christi?” The principle underlying that question poses a threat to every productive individual. Individual rights protect our freedom to act as we judge best, so long as we respect the…
For most Americans, July 4th is a time to celebrate the nation’s independence from Great Britain. Certainly, that was the prominent aspect of the Declaration of Independence. But more fundamentally, the Founding Fathers declared the independence of the individual from the State. Through human history, and even in most of the world today, the individual…
If we examine nearly any political issue, from health care to housing, from jobs to wages, we will find claims of conflicting “rights.” Individuals claim that they have a right to decent housing, while landlords claim that they have a right to choose their tenants. Employees claim that they have a right to a “living…
A recent article at The Hill claims that property is a fundamental right. This claim illustrates why property rights are widely attacked and violated. The article approvingly states: For liberals, property rights is a question of human rights and human decency: every human is entitled to a secure roof over their head and a plot…
A friend describes herself as liberal–she supports gay marriage, is pro-choice, and hates Donald Trump. She generally votes for Democrats, though she admits that she would have voted for John McCain if he hadn’t selected Sarah Palin as his running partner. Often, when we are discussing an issue, one of us will take a stance…
I recently had an interesting conversation with a liberal friend. As would be expected, we disagree on many political issues. During our conversation, she said that many people will make bad decisions, and government needs to protect them. I agree with her that many people will make bad decisions. I disagree with her that government…
In recent years, Texas cities (as well as those across the nation) have embarked on a campaign of “local control.” Companies like Uber and Airbnb have upset the traditional regulatory environment. Adding to the mix are energetic citizens calling for bans on plastic bags, regulations on trees, and protection for historic buildings. Local governments are…