Property rights: When the protector becomes the abuser

 Government is instituted to protect property of every sort;
as well that which lies in the various rights of individuals, as
that which the term particularly expresses.  This being the end
of government, that alone is a just government which impartially
secures to every man whatever is his own.

-- James Madison

The security of private property rights is fundamental to a free and prosperous country.  Sadly, far too few on either the left or the right recognize this truth and champion it. 

 

Nobody should be surprised that the left holds private property rights in contempt, but what about the right?

 

There are too many otherwise-conservative business owners whose respect for property rights ends with the fellow who refuses to sell his property (which just happens to be in the middle of where the business owner wants to build a shopping center).

In my town, I've seen otherwise-conservative politicians on the city council grossly abuse the power of eminent domain in the name of neighborhood 'renewal'.  This outrageous practice (which is also used to replace low-tax-revenue homes and businesses with high-tax-revenue ones) can be found just about everywhere, as the Castle Coalition documents.

 

Madison rightly says that a chief end of government is to impartially secure the right of private property.  In too many cases, though, government is the tyrannical abuser of that right.

 

A good portion of this abuse could be ended if only the citizens would rein in their local city councils (or whoever wields the hammer in their area).  The problem is that nearly all of the abuse happens 'below the radar' of the voters.  A homeowner here, a small business owner there.  It might make the local newspaper one day, but by the next week all is forgotten.

(Quote courtesy of The Federalist's "Founders Quote Daily")