Prior to property/land ownership, peasants roamed the many
hillsides chasing goats and essentially scavenging for food and shelter. Some
peasants rented land from local lords and attempted subsistence farming. Hanson
notes the impact forged by property ownership:
Renters, serfs, indentured servants,
or lessees cannot invest in capital crops such as trees or vines in any
efficient manner. Nor will they take the considerable risks entailed in
viticulture or arboriculture without clear title to the land they farm. Farmers,
especially planters of trees and vines, will soon demand to own their own land
if they are to invest labor and capital in order to enrich the surrounding community.
(p.35)
Note that last phrase, property rights and land ownership
led to tremendous advances in nutrition, health, and wealth of the entire Greek
citizenry. Hanson continues in his book to enumerate the remarkable and almost
entirely positive changes that swept over Greece during this time that connect directly
back to the ability of a Greek farmer to own his land.
Hanson also illustrates the virtues that ride shotgun with
property rights / land ownership. He speaks about the conservative outlook that
farming requires that, in turn, flows out into the surrounding culture.
(Test this idea, where are the Red States?) He speaks of ingenuity and individualism
that enable the farmer to succeed. On the whole, owning and working the land
made Greece great and it is what made America great. Our greatest era came when
farming was optimized through investment in technology*. When the citizenry is willing to invest
capital
in their property and they are free to retain the increase in property that their investment
earns them, the entire society is blessed.
I’ve stressed property rights in this article because I
believe they are under direct assault in America today. Consider first that
your wages are YOUR PROPERTY**. Consider what portion of your property is seized
by government agencies before you ever get it in your hands. These agencies demonstrate
a confidence that they are more able than you to use your property wisely “on
your behalf”.
Consider the confiscation of real property through myriad ad valorem taxes.
Consider the limits (virtual confiscation) on property that occurs daily through bureaucratic regulation. Even as I write,
the Liberals in American are aiming (pun intended) to diminish more property
rights by regulating guns into extinction, if they can manage it.
“You
didn’t build that,” spat the Liberal President at people who invested their
own capital in their own property. We see in that intentional statement both
the contempt Liberals have for Capitalists and
the calculated scheme they have to steal back property. Of course, if you didn’t
build that (on your own), it is only fair that the government take back some of
“that” and redistribute your property to others – to your “partners” in this
collective adventure of life.
The entire outlook of Conservativism and Capitalism in one
of empowering the individual to make it on their own. Property rights ensure
that hard work is rewarded. No wonder at all, is it, that the Liberals want steal
your property. Property is power!
Clark H Smith
* Technology-enhanced farming created tremendous advances in
agriculture and set farm laborers to embark upon other pursuits (manufacturing,
technology, finance, etc) which, from about 1945 forward, created an
unparalleled explosion in the standard of living of all Americans and most of
the world. Efficient, effective farming – it’s a good thing.
** In ancient days, you would work in the field with your hands for the food you ate, the clothes you wore, the shelter you needed. You earned your property. Just because you sit at a keyboard today and get paid by direct deposit every two weeks, that does not mean you are NOT still working to earn property. It just comes in a different form - a form far more vulnerable to pilfering by the government.
No comments:
Post a Comment