Property rights Archives - Page 6 of 7 Voice For Liberty

May

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday May 4, 2011

Stripper bill III Ric Anderson of the Topeka Capital-Journal looks at some of the issues surrounding the "Community Defense Act," which applies broad regulation to strip clubs. This year the serious issue of human trafficking has been used to promote this bill as necessary. Anderson pokes some large holes in that argument, most notably: "But if authorities know the problem [underage girls stripping] is happening and also know where it’s taking place, why haven’t they been able to stop it?" ... The bill has passed the House but not the Senate. ... Beside regulation of behavior inside strip clubs, the…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday March 28, 2011

Wichita Eagle endorsements. Yesterday the Wichita Eagle released its endorsements for Mayor, Wichita City Council, and Wichita school board. It is no surprise that in each case the newspaper editorial board recommended that voters select the candidate most likely to support the board's big-government interventionist policies, thereby (unwittingly?) providing a guide as to who not to vote for, if you value limited government and economic freedom. Wichita City Council this week. As it is the fifth Tuesday of the month, the Wichita City Council will not meet. While some might say the mayor and council members need to get to…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday March 13, 2011

Wichita city council this week. There is no meeting of the Wichita City Council this week, as most members will be attending a meeting of the National League of Cities in Washington, DC. These conferences are designed to help council members be more effective. But for three of the council members that will be attending, their future service on the council is measured in days, not years. These three lame duck members -- Sue Schlapp, Paul Gray, and Roger Smith -- will be leaving the council in April when their terms end. Their participation in this conference, at taxpayer expense,…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday March 2, 2011

Duplication in federal programs found. Washington Examiner Editorial: "Nobody with even minimal knowledge of how public bureaucracies work should be surprised by the Government Accountability Office's conclusion that there is a 'staggering level of duplication' in the federal government. Duplication is inevitable when professional politicians in both major parties go for decades using tax dollars to buy votes among favored constituencies, and reward friends, former staffers, family members and campaign contributors with heaping helpings from the pork barrel. With the inevitable program duplication also comes an endless supply of official duplicity as presidents, senators and representatives rationalize spending billions of…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Eminent domain reserved for use in Wichita

As part of the plan for the future of downtown Wichita, the city council was asked to formally disavow the use of eminent domain to take private property for the purpose of economic development. The council would not agree to this restriction. Susan Estes noted that the legislative agenda that the city council passed earlier in the meeting supported "home rule and local control as the most valid solution for recurring legislative issues." High on the list of these issues is eminent domain. Estes asked that the city adopt a statement that the city will not use eminent domain to…

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday December 7, 2010

Political pretense vs. market performance. What is the difference between markets and politics or government? "There is a large gap between the performance of markets and the public's approval of markets. Despite the clear superiority of free markets over other economic arrangements at protecting liberty, promoting social cooperation and creating general prosperity, they have always been subject to pervasive doubts and, often, outright hostility. Of course, many people are also skeptical about government. Yet when problems arise that can even remotely be blamed on markets, the strong tendency is to 'correct' the 'market failures' by substituting more government control for…

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday November 7, 2010

Wichita City Council this week. Spirit AeroSystems asks for $7.5 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB). IRBs are not loans made by the city. In fact, in this case the bonds will be purchased by Spirit itself, says the agenda report: "Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. intends to purchase the bonds itself, through direct placement, and the bonds will not be reoffered for sale to the public." The reason for the bonds is the property tax exemption on property purchased with the bond proceeds. Additionally, Spirit may not have to pay sales tax on the purchases. This is a public hearing designed…

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday November 4, 2010

The future of politics is here, now. After noting how California reached way back to the past to elect a governor, Denis Boyles writes in National Review Online about the future, and how it's being made right here: "If you want to see the bright and shining politics of the future, you have to go to the country’s heartland, and specifically to Kansas, a place most Democrats only know from Thomas Frank’s liberal folklore. There, the election has yielded two new congressmen -- Mike Pompeo and the remarkable Tim Huelskamp -- who were not created by the Tea Party movement…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Kansas restrictive covenants eased regarding political yard signs

It's common for neighborhoods to have restrictive covenants that prohibit homeowners from placing any signs in their yard, except for signs advertising homes for sale. But a 2008 Kansas law overrides these restrictive covenants to allow for the placement of small political yard signs starting 45 days before an election. Still, residents of covenant neighborhoods may want to observe their neighborhood's restrictions, even though they are not valid. The bill was the product of then-Senator Phil Journey of Haysville. Journey is now a judge in the Kansas 18th Judicial District. The bill passed unanimously in both the Kansas House and…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

‘The Power of the Poor’ to be shown in Wichita

On Monday October 11, the video "The Power of the Poor" will be shown in Wichita, with discussion following. "The Power of the Poor is a compelling look at the surprising and vital role of inclusive laws and titled property in establishing peace and prosperity. It is also the story of real people with real struggles -- all of whom share a commitment to entrepreneurship." "De Soto and his team have proven that, even hobbled by great obstacles, the world’s hard-working poor entrepreneurs have created far more wealth than anyone had ever imagined possible -- even with the absence of…