Re: liberty

["Andrew Hagen" <xah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Property is an complicated subject in the US. Some tend to think that
if they own a chunk of land, it's theirs to do anything with, and that
they make all the decisions about it. If they want to raise hyenas next
door to a day care center, that's their right as an American. Not
necessarily so. Even if you hold a fee simple to the estate,
unencumbered by easements or servitudes, you are still subject to
numberous laws that pertain to the land. Examples of types of laws that
could apply are: equitable servitudes, riparian rights, land use,
zoning, eminent domain, and many others.

Property is not really what we think it is. Property is how we mediate
social relations in the context of scare resources. It's complex.

As for liberty, there is no requirement of unanimous consent or even
majority rule before a liberty may be recognized by the public power.
Thus, liberty has value. It is not clear to me how it is important that
we lack a shared understanding of the meaning of "liberty."

Andrew Hagen
xah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

On Tue, 4 Sep 2001 14:34:34 -0700, Michael Perelman wrote:

>What does liberty mean?  My neighbor has the right to spray onto my
>property -- his liberty.  If a insect infestation threatens ag. interests,
>the farmers can get the state to spray onto my property.  Commercial
>interests trump liberty every time.
> --
>Michael Perelman
>Economics Department
>California State University
>Chico, CA 95929
>
>Tel. 530-898-5321
>E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>