Did he really just say what I thought I heard him say?
From a MyWestTexas.com story on the management district calling for better private property maintenance:
"...there comes a point in time that it is reasonable for government to play a role in encouraging people to take care of their property." - Midland mayor Mike Canon
Oh does there now? Hmm. Look, I'm certainly no fan of dilapidated property either, but where exactly does the government get off in telling me how high my grass can grow or what color my building should be painted? I realize this is a multi-faceted issue, especially in light of the recent vandalism outbreaks in the downtown sector. But the above comment speaks loudly as to the state of private property rights in America, and raises the question of whether or not they even exist at all.
The owners of buildings that are in need of maintenance or repairs would be notified and if no action is taken after a period of time, the city would pay for the maintenance or repairs to take place and bill the owner. Owners who did not pay the bill would have a lien placed on their property that would have to be paid before they could sell it.
Ah yes, the old place-a-lien-on-their-property trick. It's a common tool of many municipalities.
When it all comes down, the government has the ability to take virtually anything away from you. Though your property may be bought and paid for, the government continues to 'lease' it to you indefinitely via a yearly tax that -- if left unpaid -- will eventually result in Uncle Sam coming and taking it for himself. Property ownership is ultimately a myth, and we need to be heading in the other direction, not drafting more ordinances.
I, for one, am against the recommendation by the MMMD. I'd rather look out my office window and see the tall grass of liberty than the neatly groomed hedges of government control.
6 Comments
It is no secret that most folks who are in office or seeking office are all about power, not doing the right thing.
Thank goodness that we are rid of Canon very soon. It's too bad that we can't do the same for many folks in Austin and DC.
If we don't get a handle on things in this country fast, it will no longer be the country we want it to be, nor will it be what the Founders envisioned.
It will take another Revolution to fix things, I think.
I have to agree, once you cross the line, you don't go back. Once the government starts dictating how our lawns and houses look we are on a very slippery slope.
Especially since many of the homes that I see in neglect are not from a lack of the owner wanting them to look better, it is a lack of money or ability, neither of which is helped by billing them or putting a lien on their property.
I, for one, am against the recommendation by the MMMD. I'd rather look out my office window and see the tall grass of liberty than the neatly groomed hedges of government control.
Well said , Vaughn , truly well said.
*** experi-mental ***
I told this to like everybody even some crazy dude on the side of the highways. Use BLACK HELICOPTERS to keep vacant lots clean, all you have to do is have the pilot fly upside down over the lots thus using the blades to trim the weeds, grass, tall people and plastic bags get blown into yards that people care about thus are picked up. Please Yogi Barrea and the New Orleans Saints make this patent affordable so we can keep the lots of Midlands cleans.
Dang ! I knew it would evolve into this ! BLEU!%%%EXPERIMENTAL%%%Use BLACK HELICOPTERS to keep vacant lots clean, all you have to do is have the pilot fly upside down over the lots thus using the blades to trim the weeds, grass, tall people and plastic bags get blown into yards that people care about thus are picked up%%%DITTO%%% I see black helicopters.
Sadly , I need to point out that there ARE black helicopters . You can see them in the sky around the "tall city" . They ARE military . The military has done away with most aircraft identification . They may best be referred to as "charcoal" in color..but they are there . That said. Private property rights , originally upheld by the Magna Carta and then AFFIRMED by the constitution of the United States of America were tossed out with the dishwater And the baby in 1913 ! But then again I'm nuts ! I do believe in black helicopters..I even SEE them !