SANTA ANA LOOKING FOR A REVITALIZATION
We write the OC REGISTER about their editorial today
Editor OC Register
Re: Editorial, 12/26/07--Urban renewal by any other name. LINK
You wrote: "The style of neighborhoods and the types of businesses that exist are up to the people who live there, not the government."
Actually, under our representative form of government, it should be up to the voting citizens who live there, but not as individuals with complete freedom to do whatever they want on the piece of land they own. Complete freedom for one, might mean oppression for another. And, it might lead to pig farms next to daycare centers next to plating plants next to porno theaters next to grade schools next to chicken rendering plants.
In a built out society, people on both sides of the fence have rights and responsibilities. Humans discovered a long time ago that we can't always count on our neighbor on the other side of the fence to do the right thing by our lights.
To give everyone as much individual freedom to do as they want with their property and not harm their neighbors, government (composed of the people) must make reasonable rules for land use.
And, over time, needs and land uses change, and rules must be changed.
These days, neighbors of the OC Register can't put in pig farms all around your building or around the tony homes of the pure thinking editors and upper management of the paper.
Ideologically pure libertarianism, which seems to get a lot of mouth service by the Reg--if not actually lived by those who work there--is problematic in a crowded world with every piece of land owned by someone.
Reasonable people of a libertarian bent (and I'm both, I believe) understand that we have to give up some of our freedoms to live in a society with others. The less we have to give up, the better; especially as our freedoms relate to our thought and speech.
Now, as to the case at bar--the revitalization of Santa Ana. Most will agree that the city needs it. So, what do the libertarian purists at the Reg, who probably mostly don't live in Santa Ana, suggest as a reasonable way to handle matters?
Before answering, here's a suggestion. Why don't all of you folks in upper management and especially on the editorial board at the Reg, actually move to Santa Ana? Come on down from your ivory towers and actually live in the neighborhoods in question.
Live what you preach before getting too preachy about how others should live.
CM PRESS
Costa Mesa
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OUR TRIP TO TIJUANA--LIBERTARIAN THINKING AND ITS DISCONTENTS
Not long ago, the CM PRESS was in Tijuana. There, we saw an example of "it's my land and I'll do what I want with it," thinking.
About 30 feet directly behind a large factory, was a row of ramshackle small homes identical to what you see in some older Santa Ana neighborhoods. The front doors and porches actually faced the back of the massive tilt-up concrete back wall of the factory. There was a small unpaved muddy road in front of the homes about the width of one car.
On the other side of this small muddy road, was property that was apparently owned by the factory. However, there was no fence to separate the homes from the factory's land. Directly next to the muddy road on the factory's land was a large muddy shallow pool of water with a metallic sheen floating on the surface of the water. In about the center of the pool of water was a steaming slag heap about 4 feet high and 15 feet in circumference with fresh tire tracks leading from it through the mud to the factory.
Playing in the water were three little kids. The oldest appeared to be about nine-years-old. Two were up to their knees in the water and mud while the youngest one was "swimming" by pulling himself along by his hands in the mud below him. No doubt, the kids were pleased to live in such a great place with a wonderful pool of water right in front of their home where they could swim and play each day.
Your guess is as good as mine about how many of these kids will come down with cancer and other ailments as a result of playing in the water.
We wonder if the pure souls at the OC Register would argue that the factory owners have a right to dump their waste products on their land--hey, they own it--even when it impacts the health and safety of those living in the homes on adjacent pieces of land.
Libertarian thinking must be guided by the principle: Your right to swing your arm, stops where my nose begins.
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If you think the above two articles don't relate to Costa Mesa, you haven't been paying attention.
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
