Private Property Rights

“There is no security of property, where a despotic authority can possess itself the property of the subject against his consent. Neither is there such security, where the consent is merely nominal and delusive.”

– Jean-Baptiste Say, A Treatise on Political Economy, Chapter XIV

“Property is the fruit of labor – property is desirable – is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”

– Abraham Lincoln, reply to New York Workingmen’s Democratic Republican Association (March 21, 1864)

Many understand why our rights to life and liberty are essential, but why property? As you will see, without property rights, other protections are meaningless.

You have worked hard for what you have. Maybe you have bought a house after many years. In the alternative, perhaps you have pieces of personal property that you hold dear. As another possibility, maybe you have had your creativity rewarded with a copyright, patent, or trademark. Regardless what it is, your property is supposed to be just that, yours. Now imagine a system where the government could just take your things for any reason (or no reason). Would you be as likely to work for what you want? Of course not. Would you be more or less likely to criticize the government publicly ? Obviously, way less.  Based on that, protecting your rights to your property is essential for your exercise of other rights.

Ben helps protect you from the government taking your property. Under the various constitutional provisions, you are owed many procedural safeguards before government can take your property: (1) A warrant allowing the police to seize particular property, (2) A court’s judgment against you, (3) When taken for a “public use”, receiving compensation for it, or (4) Taxation. If none of those scenarios have been met, or if you are wondering whether the government cut corners on any of them, please contact Ben and see if he can help you keep your property or get it back.