Property rights Archives - Page 4 of 7 Voice For Liberty

Oct

Economic freedom improves our lives

Economic freedom, in countries where it is allowed to thrive, leads to better lives for people as measured in a variety of ways. This is true for everyone, especially for poor people. This is the message presented in a short video based on the work of the Economic Freedom of the World report, which is a project of Canada's Fraser Institute. Two years ago Robert Lawson, one of the authors of the Economic Freedom of the World report, lectured in Wichita on this topic. The current video is made possible by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. One of the…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

The real free lunch: Markets and private property

As we approach another birthday of Milton Friedman, here's his article where he clears up the authorship of a famous aphorism, and explains how to really get a free lunch. Based on remarks at the banquet celebrating the opening of the Cato Institute’s new building, Washington, May 1993. I am delighted to be here on the occasion of the opening of the Cato headquarters. It is a beautiful building and a real tribute to the intellectual influence of Ed Crane and his associates. I have sometimes been associated with the aphorism “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” which…

Feb

By Bob Weeks

Kansas House votes for property rights

Today the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill that will protect property owners from harm simply because their property is near a historic property. The bill is HB 2118, as described by its supplemental note: HB 2118 would delete provisions related to environs restrictions from historic property reviews. Under current law, proposed projects within 500 feet of the boundaries of a historic property located in a city or within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of a historic property located in the unincorporated portion of a county are subject to historic design and appearance restrictions. The bill would limit historic…

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Refuting the attacks on Koch

From KochFactsTV: What do big government politicians mean when they say, "Koch?" Nancy Pfotenhauer of Koch Industries explains that when big government politicians say "Koch," they're not talking about the successful American company that employs more than 50,000 people nationwide. They're really attacking the principles of economic freedom that Koch has advocated for more than 50 years regardless of what political party holds power. Economic freedom means property rights protected by an impartial rule of law, the freedom to trade and exchange goods and services, sound money, and a government that promotes prosperity rather than undermine it. Economic freedom also…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

A second Bill of Rights, by Franklin Roosevelt

If we wonder what was the genesis of the modern nanny state, listen to this speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It's part of his State of the Union Address from 1944. The purpose of the original Bill of Rights is to protect our freedoms from government. But to provide the things Roosevelt calls for -- food, clothing, a decent home, adequate medical care, and a good education -- requires an expansive government. These rights are called positive rights because they require action by the government, in contrast to the negative rights found in the Bill of Rights. Richard A. Epstein…

May

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday May 17, 2012

Watchdog reporter at Pachyderm. This Friday (May 18th) the Wichita Pachyderm Club features Paul Soutar, Reporter for Kansas Watchdog, speaking on "The evolution of journalism and how the new media empowers citizens." The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Wichita Pachyderm meetings. For more information click on Wichita Pachyderm Club. ... The club has an exceptional lineup of future speakers as follows: On May 25th: Ron Estes, State Treasurer of Kansas, speaking on "A report from the Kansas Treasurer." ... On June 1st: Gary Oborny, Chairman/CEO Occidental Management and Real Estate Development, CCIM Designated member of the Storm Water…

May

By Bob Weeks

Walter Williams on government in a free society

Walter E.Williams Last September in Wichita economist Walter E. Williams spoke on the legitimate role of government in a free society, touching on the role of government as defined in the Constitution, the benefits of capitalism and private property, and the recent attacks on individual freedom and limited government. Williams' evening lecture was held in the Mary Jane Teall Theater at Century II, and all but a handful of its 652 seats were occupied. It was presented by the Bill of Rights Institute and underwritten by the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation. Williams said that one of the justifications for…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday March 26, 2012

Pachyderms to feature talk on sustainable development. This Friday (March 30rd) the Wichita Pachyderm Club features Tom DeWeese, President, American Policy Center, speaking on U.N. Agenda 21: Sustainable Development. Tom DeWeese is one of the nation’s leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education and American sovereignty and independence. ... The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Wichita Pachyderm meetings. For more information click on Wichita Pachyderm Club. ... The club has an exceptional lineup of future speakers as follows: On April 6th: Jordan A. Poland, who will discuss his Master of Arts…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Sustainable planning: The agenda and details

Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau has produced a document that explains the dangers contained with the "sustainable development" movement that is spreading across the country. Recently both the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County voted to participate in a planning grant devoted to starting the implementation of this ideology that government can plan better than markets can. In the document Ranzau writes: "Proponents of these grants often speak in general terms that make it difficult to disagree. But as they say, the devil is in the details. It is very important for you to know what they are not telling…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday December 14, 2011

Property rights in Wichita. At yesterday's meeting of the Wichita City Council, the city approved its legislative agenda. The city incorporates the agenda of the League of Kansas Municipalities. One plank: "We support increased flexibility for local governments to use eminent domain for economic development purposes, including blight remediation, without seeking legislative approval." Susan Estes of Americans for Prosperity appeared before the council, asking members to strike this provision, as the taking of property by eminent domain for the purposes of giving it to someone else is one of the worse violations of property rights and freedom. No council member…