In July, the Dutch Housing Minister has proposed a law that would allow municipalities to force homeowners to sell homes valued at less that 355,000 Euros to market only to low- and middle-income households. Like all coercive measures, the Dutch “solution” isn’t going to solve anything. Indeed, it will make the problem worse. A Dutch…
The Texas Standard reports that the state’s method for funding government schools hurts rural districts and puts an “increasing burden on local taxpayers.” The article goes on to note that, while school property taxes keep going up, the schools aren’t getting any better. And in some cases, they are getting worse. While the article doesn’t…
In the early twentieth century the Good Roads movement successfully framed improved roads as a “public good.” Better roads, the movement argued, would enable food and manufactured products to be more easily distributed and everyone would benefit. Therefore, free, improved roads should be provided by government. Today, housing advocates are making a similar argument. If…
An opinion piece in the Santa Fe New Mexican argues that affordable housing really means subsidized housing. The author correctly notes that government housing programs are subsidized by taxpayers, and below market-rate housing (often extorted from developers for permission to build) is subsidized by other home buyers and renters. The author then asks, who is…
The Texas Tribune reports that Rep. Mike Conaway, a Midland Republican and chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, has begun laying the foundation for the next rendition of the farm bill. He recently hosted other congressmen during a tour of West Texas. Ostensibly, the tour was intended to give the congressmen an opportunity to hear about…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on August 28, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. For decades, politicians have promised us a variety of clean, cheap energy sources. Darren Goode details a few of this on Politico. From cellulosic ethanol to nuclear power, past promises have fallen short. But Goode doesn’t really tell us why…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on August 21, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. Representatives from twelve countries will meet later this week to negotiate a trade agreement as a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Many of the countries involved want increased access to markets in other participating nations. For example, Americans want to…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on January 11, 2010. Comments have not been migrated. Last Friday KPRC reported that Stages Repertory Theatre owes the city more than $350,000 in back rent. In an amazing display of evasion, both the city and the reporter ignored the facts of the situation. The report calls Stages…