That is the argument I make in the soon to be published article in the WMA Reporter. Rather than spending billions on wasteful goverment programs, the government should just stay out of the way and let the free market work.
Posted by: Mark Alpert | July 8, 2010
Are Property Rights the Solution to Land Use Problems?
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Posted in Current Events, Regulation Nightmares, Uncategorized
Posted by: Mark Alpert | May 10, 2010
City of Los Angeles Set to Block CPI Increases Under Rent Control
On May 7th, the City of Los Angeles took the first of two votes necessary to adopt a moratorium on the annual CPI adjustments for properties under rent control, according to the LA Times. The justification for the decision is that renters suffering under difficult economic times cannot afford to have their rents increased to keep up with inflation. This justification for harsher rent controls is dubious, at best. Landlords are not responsible for the recessions. The cost of what is essentially a poverty program (which requires no income qualification) should not be imposed on them. If the City Council votes to confirm the decision, I hope a property owner will decide to file suit to challenge the moratorium.
Posted in Current Events, Regulation Nightmares, Rent Control
Posted by: Mark Alpert | February 10, 2010
Pacific Legal Foundation Challenges EPA Endangerment Finding on Global Warming
Late in2009. the EPA made a well publicized finding that ”greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations and that emissions from new motor vehicles threatens public health and welfare.
The Pacific Legal Foundation has filed a Petition challenging the finding and asking that the public hearing be reopened in light of data which has come to light which questions the finding.
Unless the finding is successfully challenged, you can bet there will be similar findings made regarding all manner of human activity. Global warming is the ultimate anti-property rights tool and it is driven by politics, not science.
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Posted in Current Events
Posted by: Mark Alpert | November 21, 2009
Detroit Silverdome sells for $583,000
This isn’t so much a property rights story, as much as a story of what is happening to our economy. The Silverdome, which was built for 55.7 million dollars 35 years ago, just sold for $583,000. That is an amazing statement about how bad Detroit’s economy is doing today. Frankly, its downright scary.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Mark Alpert | November 18, 2009
Welcome To California, Now Go Home
Growing up in California, I recall being amused by the ”Welcome to California, Now Go Home” bumper sticker. I don’t see those bumper stickers anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a “Welcome Californian, Now Go Home” bumper sticker in places like Texas and Arizona, where many California citizens and California businesses have fled. Two major news stories of today seemed to illustrate the problem. First, we have news that the California budget deficit “fixed” only a few months ago, is predicted to be 21 Billion, according to the Orange County Register. Second, we have the report from the LA Times that the state energy commission has adopted a ban on the sale of televisions believed to consume too much energy. Our state government apparently just doesn’t get the link between overregulation which punishes business and a weak economy. The quote of commissioner Rosenfeld says it all: “It looks like a very good deal for society . . . “ These arrogant fools essentially believe they know what is good for all of us, whether we like it or not. Texas sounds better every day.
Posted in Current Events, Regulation Nightmares
