4/24/2013 Property versus community rights

Next Wednesday at the Ideas Cafe, we will be discussing the relation between community versus individual property rights.


Property rights are some of the fundamental building blocks of a capitalist society.  From land, physical property, and intellectual property ownership, property rights infers that owners have control over their property and enjoy the benefits as well as be responsible for the liabilities.

The incentive is there then for the owners to look after their property both in protecting it and improving it.

While some of us may distress over the environment being destroyed by businesses whose goal is narrowly focused on profits,  property advocates would blame it on lack of ownership for the environment.  If the environment belongs to some entity, the owner of this environment will have the interest for protecting it and fighting against polluters.

The tragedy of the commons argument.

Since we are not hermits and we all choose to live in a community with other property owners, there arise a community right issue that needs to be balanced against the individual property rights.

Most municipalities have by-laws now requiring property owners to ask for permission before cutting trees over a certain size in their own property. It seems an invasion on individual property rights but the argument can be made that actions in individual property can affect the overall attractiveness and the value of the community.

I lived in a townhouse complex before where residents are not allowed to hang laundry outside as the strata council believe that it affects the looks of the property.

Just what should be the criteria in setting the compromise between property and community rights?  Is it tyranny of the majority over the minority?  or the rotten apple that is ruining the whole bushel?

When do rules start to restrict individuality?  The so call "Vancouver special" or monster house are results of builders conforming and maximizing on municipal building by-laws that are attempting to control excesses in the design of new homes.

Should we have more or less rules?