“If you take the Houston blinders off for a minute, you’ll realize that ‘deed restrictions protect property values’ and ‘zoning distorts property values’ are the same statement.
Other things that ‘distort’ property values are: having a functioning police force so you have a reasonable certainty that a band of pirates won’t come steal everything you own; having roads to connect your property to other things; being located in a country with a functioning economy; public support of decent schools; a public health system that prevents outbreaks of Ebola; lack of a brutal murderous dictatorial regime; and not living downwind of a sewage treatment plant.
Which of these are ‘evil planning’ vs ‘sensible government’ is, of course, determined by the political views of the speaker.” [John (another one), commenting on Comment of the Day: Keep Houston Cheap]
8 Comments
Aaaaarg!
Great comment, John. Unfortunately, an increasing demographic in America (and Texas, and Houston) seems to want the US to be like Somalia: an unregulated libertarian paradise, if you don’t mind the guns, piracy, and lack of services. I’ll never understand why people don’t make the connection between the existence of government and basic things like roads. A fire department. Drinkable water. The fact that there are political views that see these things as “evil,” as you say, is troubling.
If we want to get technical about economic nomenclature, then some of the examples you’ve listed don’t quite qualify as market distortions. For instance, an ebola outbreak may shock the market, however that circumstance by itself does not necessarily endanger an environment of perfect competition or the validity of contracts or of property rights. It’s just an event. The government response to an event has the potential to cause market distortions.
Aaaaarg!
Yarrr Matey!
Unless you are living on a houseboat, pirates aren’t likely a problem.
Unfortunately, an increasing demographic in America (and Texas, and Houston) seems to want the US to be like Somalia: an unregulated libertarian paradise,
In what way is Somalia, a country ruled by Islamic warlords…a libertarian paradise?
You must be confusing libertarians with anarchists, a common and increasingly rediculous mistake.
Great comment – plus one point for sanity and moderation!
Somalia: an unregulated libertarian paradise
a) North Korea: A progressive paradise