Property rights Archives - Page 5 of 7 Voice For Liberty

Nov

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday November 23, 2011

Standing up for fundamental liberties. A particularly troubling objection that those who advocate for liberty face is that we want to deny freedom and liberty to others -- as if the quantity of liberty is fixed, and I can have more only if you have less. This is the type of false accusation that leftists make against Wichita-based Koch Industries. In this excerpt from the company's Koch Facts page, the work that Koch does to advance liberty for everyone is explained: "Throughout Koch’s long-standing record of public advocacy, we have been strong and steadfast supporters of individual liberties and freedoms.…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Economic freedom in America: The decline, and what it means

"The U.S.'s gains in economic freedom made over 20 years have been completely erased in just nine." Furthermore, our economic freedom is still dropping, to the point where we now rank below Canada. The result is slow growth in the private sector economy and persistent high unemployment. This is perhaps the most important takeaway from a short new video from Economic Freedom Project, which is a project of the Charles Koch Institute. What are the components or properties of economic freedom? These are the factors: The size of government based on expenditures and taxes.Whether property rights are protected under an…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday September 26, 2011

Who creates jobs? Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge Foundation knows that it's not government that creates jobs. It's people that do. And, there is one presidential candidate who knows this too. This candidate said during a recent debate "The fact is I can unequivocally say that I did not create a single job while I was governor." Read more at Who Creates Jobs? Pompeo to address Pachyderms. This week's meeting (September 30th) of the Wichita Pachyderm Club presents U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo of Wichita on "An update from Washington." ... The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Wichita…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday September 12, 2011

TIF not good for everyone, it seems. One of the criticisms of tax increment financing (TIF) is that it diverts tax revenue away from the general operations of government and into the hands of private concerns. Supporters of TIF deny this, using a variety of arguments. But as always, actions speak louder than words. In this case, examination of city documents finds that the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation, which is funded by a special property tax district, is exempt from the TIF district. (Actually, it's the SSMID that's exempt, but the only reason the SSMID exists, and the only thing…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Walter Williams on doing good

Thursday's lecture in Wichita by economist Walter Williams featured a section covering how greed, or what some call enlightened self-interest, is the best way to produce good acts. This lecture was presented by the Bill of Rights Institute and underwritten by the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation. When government is used in an attempt to do good, it requires either elimination or attenuation of private property and market forces, Williams told the audience. But it is private property and the desire by people for more that motivates people to do the difficult and laborious things that benefit their fellow man.…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Walter Williams: Government must stick to its limited and legitimate role

Walter E.Williams At two events in Wichita today, 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. The 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…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Guitar makers and players targeted by onerous laws

Today the Wall Street Journal reports again on startling examples of overcriminalization, with federal authorities conducting raids on businesses based on aggressive enforcement of broad and vague laws. This time it's the famous Gibson Guitar company, which is charged with importing wood that may have been illegally harvested. But individual guitar owners are targeted, too, if they travel across international borders with a guitar that might possibly have been made from banned wood. If the traveler doesn't have the proper documentation, the guitar might be seized. As a result, a law professor says he doesn't leave the country with a…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Sweatshops best alternative for some workers

From April, 2010. While sweatshops are not the place most Americans would choose to work, they are often the best alternative available to workers in some countries. Pay is low compared to U.S. standards because worker productivity is low, and the process of economic development will lead to increases in productivity and pay. But most policies promoted to help the purported plight of sweatshop workers actually lead to harm. That's the message of Benjamin Powell, who spoke to a group of university students and citizens last night in Emporia on the topic "In Praise of Sweatshops." Powell is a professor…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday August 1, 2011

Debt deal seen as victory for smaller government. Wall Street Journal Review & Outlook A Tea Party Triumph: The debt deal is a rare bipartisan victory for the forces of smaller government. "If a good political compromise is one that has something for everyone to hate, then last night's bipartisan debt-ceiling deal is a triumph. The bargain is nonetheless better than what seemed achievable in recent days, especially given the revolt of some GOP conservatives that gave the White House and Democrats more political leverage. .. The big picture is that the deal is a victory for the cause of…

May

By Bob Weeks

Charles Koch: Advancing economic freedom

In recent years Charles Koch and his brother David Koch have emerged as prominent defenders of economic freedom and the freedom and prosperity it promises. In today's Wichita Eagle, Charles Koch explains the importance of economic freedom and warns of the threats to freedom and prosperity that our country faces. A key component of economic freedom is property rights. In his 2007 book The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's Largest Private Company, Mr. Koch explained the importance of property rights: "Countries that clearly define and protect individual private property rights stimulate investment and grow. Those that…