by David A. Merrick, Corvallis –
Now that the legislating period is nearly over it has become once again clear to me that all our local legislators tend to restrict rather than defend rights to property. To be fair, however, not in all aspects, but in two very important areas: Eminent Domain and Personal Property. Both concern the right to own and utilize property in any manner that does not infringe or interfere with this same right endowed by each individual.
First let me define Property as that which a person owns; Person as a human being; Own as belonging to self; and Utilize as to put to use; all defined in the Random House dictionary. Every human being owns property, the most important being his or her self. Even the poorest of beings has that as a possession as long as they are alive and has the right to use that simple possession in any manner that does no harm to any or all other beings. In exercising this personal right, individuals tend to gain additional property such as clothes, tools, and real estate on which to utilize the tools, etc. If in gaining additional property one has done so through voluntary and honorable actions via other human beings, then one should be thought to own and use said properties in any manner chosen.
With this said, let me return to the issues at hand.
The Eminent Domain bill that was sent to the Governor expands the present powers of Eminent Domain allowing private companies to condemn private property for a use when deemed as a “public good” thus taking this option from the actual owner(s) and thus denying them the right to utilize this property in a manner most important to them. This bill affects all those who have been fortunate enough to extend their properties to the realm of real estate.
The bill to regulate Marijuana, however, will affect even those who have only themselves as property. For if one is the sole owner of the body in which one finds their self, then they should be the one to utilize this body in any manner that does not harm others. This would include the right to eat, drink, inhale, or ingest food or medicines at their pleasure. Again, without harming these same rights of others.
Until our legislators come to understand that the right to property is an inalienable personal right of every human being, then all rights will always be in jeopardy of being violated and prosecuted by those in authority. Once again, Freedom is the Issue.