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 2011, I purchased a boarded up home in the Sunnyside community of Houston. This low-income neighborhood was filled with similar homes. Many of these homes were in disrepair and hadn’t seen a fresh coat of paint in decades. To call the area economically depressed would be an understatement. Yet, I took a risk and…
In Part 2, we examined how the alleged right to choose advocated by housing advocates actually destroys the freedom to choose. In this post, we will look at the second “right” asserted by advocates: the “right” to stay. We will see how, if put into practice, this guarantee against involuntary displacement will reduce voluntary action….
In Part 1, we saw that housing advocates are advocating four “rights” pertaining to housing. In this post, we will examine the first of these alleged rights, the “right” to choose. We will see that, if put into practice, this “right” will eliminate the freedom of choice. Housing advocates state that, The right to choose…
Gresham’s Law holds that “bad” money drives out “good” money. For example, if legal tender laws declare that a one ounce brass coin and a one ounce gold coin are both worth $10, the more valuable gold coin will disappear from circulation. While Gresham’s law pertains to economics, the same principle applies to rights. When…
A growing movement across the nation claims that housing is a human right. Indeed, in March 2020, Representative Pramila Jayapal introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020. The bill aims to “address and end root causes of homelessness; transition communities towards providing housing for all; and ensure full democratic participation of persons…
Across the country, a coalition of property owners and political activists are trying to stop economic development in certain neighborhoods. They believe that investment in their community will do more harm than good. In many cities, neighborhoods close to downtown are being transformed from being economically depressed to vibrant hubs of commerce. New homes and…
When cases of COVID-19 began to rise in March, governments responded to the crisis by ordering businesses to close. When millions lost their job and were unable to pay the rent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) responded to that crisis by imposing a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent. But the…
Most rights—such as the right to free speech and the right to practice one’s religion—enjoy widespread support among politicians and the citizenry. Few explicitly call for measures to restrict free speech or freedom of religion. The right to property, however, comes under widespread attacks from both Progressives and conservatives. As an example, Sen. Elizabeth Warren…
The lock down imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a fundamental truth: Without the freedom to produce and trade, we cannot live happy, flourishing lives. Millions have lost their jobs and been forced to consume their savings or depend on government payments, not because of irresponsibility, but because government has prohibited them…
For the past several months, public officials in Seattle have been considering an ordinance that would legalize theft, assault, and nearly one hundred other misdemeanors. While critics have argued that the law would invite a dramatic increase in crime, they are failing to address the fundamental issue—the premise that individuals have a right to a…
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…