Property rights are intertwined with all other human rights. From works of art to loaves of bread, people produce the things because they are able to own and use resources.
Government exists to protect rights, including the rights to own and use property. Yet power corrupts, and government grasps for more and more control. One of the most powerful ways to increase that control is to extend it to the land we live on.
The Freedom Foundation stands up for property rights and property owners in Washington State. Most powerfully, we empower property owners themselves to build coalitions, confront local governments, and--often--win.
One example of this was an attempt to restrict waterfowl hunting across a broad swath of Thurston County. We helped the Washington State Waterfowler Association, together with other hunters and local land owners, to stand up to the County. Ultimately, officials backed down in the face of massive public outcry. Watch the video to find out more.
The best way to preserve threatened and endangered species is to engage communities and create collaboration.
Legislators who want to protect a species should seek out ways to bring together seemingly disparate groups and
individuals around that goal.
Federal endangered species listings are accompanied by layers of restrictions that tie the hands of state and local governments. Arguably, local on-the-ground solutions are far more beneficial to endangered species recovery than mandates from distant regulators.
Thurston County property owners find themselves pinned down by a government crossfire as county regulators continue their assault on private property rights, supposedly in defense of a gopher.
Americans that read Agenda 21 are outraged—and rightfully so. Even a quick glimpse of Agenda 21 and the most casual observer will recognize it as socialist engineering. Its strongest critics call it planned genocide.
Thurston County farmers, facing a looming regulatory threat to their property rights and economic freedom, are pushing back.
This threat – which underscores 10 of the scariest words in the English language, “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you” – is a proposed county ordinance that would put some farmers out of business if adopted as drafted.
Thurston County wants to encourage agriculture and tourism with a new agri-touism ordinance. The ordinance is planned failure and will only succeed in discouraging business.
OLYMPIA—Today, Stop Taking Our Property (STOP) Thurston County offered to debate the merits and implementation of the Critical Areas Ordinance and the Emergency Prairie Ordinance in Thurston County with Thurston County Commissioners at a date of their choosing at The Evergreen State College.
Thurston county must periodically review the critical areas as defined by the Growth management act. However, the Growth Management Act does not require the Commissioners to automatically rewrite the ordinance.
Washington state agencies frequently produce scientific studies and guidance documents that have broad policy implications. However, unlike the academic and scientific community, state agency authors are not required to provide their qualifications.
In fact, state agencies hide behind an exemption in the Public Records Act, shielding employees from providing that information.
A proposal from Representative Simpson, Engrossed House Bill 1653 (as amended) under consideration by the legislature would provide needed clarity to local governments in how the Growth Management Act interacts with the Shoreline Management Act. The bill has passed the House and is currently in the Senate.
