This is the fourth post in the ongoing What Does Liberty Look Like series. Last week we looked at the cultural mandate; this week we examine how God created the institution of private property to provide us with one of the means we need to carry out cultural mandate, i.e., how private property allows humans to fill…
Category: Property Rights
Liberalism’s Assault on Reality
The public outcry over the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. New London at least equaled that over the more recent cases involving ObamaCare (Sebelius) and gay marriage (Obergefell). In his dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas explained the reason behind the public’s dismay: This deferential shift in phraseology enables the Court to hold, against…
Local Government Regulation Tramples Property Rights
“Property owners do not acquire a constitutionally protected vested right in property uses …” – Texas Supreme Court; City of University Park v. Benners, 485 SW 2d 773 (1972). To fully solve the problem of local regulations making Texas cities less and less affordable for the average Texan, delaying construction, and costing Texans jobs, the…
Let’s Break Up Tiger Woods
In the aftermath of Tiger Woods’ dominant victory in the recent American Express Championship golf tournament, a number of Wood’s competitors announced they will be asking the U.S. Department of Justice to file suit seeking the breakup of Woods for violating federal antitrust laws. “He’s dominating the game,” said Adam Scott, who finished second, eight…
Creativity–A Gift from God
Fox News reports that the city of Taunton, Massachusetts is considering the use of eminent domain to save some manufacturing jobs: When the Haskon Aerospace plant in Taunton, Mass. shut down in October 100 workers lost their jobs. Many had worked at the facility for decades, making seals and gaskets for aircraft. City leaders are…
Living Like a King
“Our free market system is usually termed capitalism and by that definition capitalism has hardly been around long enough to deserve all the evil for which it is being held responsible. … Actually, all systems are capitalistic. It is just a matter of who owns and controls the capital—ancient king, dictator, or private individual. We…
Plano Lowers the Cost of Living
It is not often that governments voluntarily reduces fees or taxes. So when one does, it is worth taking a closer look. Last month, Plano voted to eliminate impact fees on developers building new homes and businesses. The fees were charged based on the size of the water meter for the project, and typically ran…
TX Legislature in Review: Property Rights
Eminent Domain reform moved forward for the first time since 2005. HJR 14 will stop local governments from using blight designations to condemn blocks of perfectly good homes and businesses for economic development projects. That is good news—El Paso and other cities may be out of the downtown redevelopment business when it comes to using…
Property Rights Still at Risk
Four years have passed since the U.S. Supreme Court’s infamous Kelo decision, which essentially changed private property ownership from a fundamental civil right to a privilege granted by the state at its sole discretion. Texas has failed to adequately respond to this decision. The first attempt in 2005 missed the mark. In 2007, the Legislature…