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Freedom of Choice and COVID-19
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…
Capitalism
Capitalism is the social/political system that recognizes and protects individual rights—the freedom to live as one chooses so long as one respects the freedom of others to do the same. Individual rights pertain to freedom of action. They protect an individual’s freedom to take the actions that he deems necessary to sustain and enhance his…
The “Right” to a Value
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…
Caught in the Crossfire
When government expands its powers beyond its legitimate purpose of protecting individual rights, unintended consequences are unleashed. When various levels of government use those powers for different goals, the individual is invariably caught in the crossfire. Government’s response to the pandemic is one example. Early in the pandemic, states and localities across the nation ordered…
Local Control Means Local Tyranny
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….
A Bill of Wrongs: Right to Counsel
Atlanta has joined a growing list of cities and states considering a “Tenant’s Bill of Rights.” Contrary to the claims of the proponents of such laws the proposed law is more accurately a bill of wrongs. The councilman who introduced the bill said, “We all know that Georgia is a property owner’s safe place, but…