[Alberta's Child]

The author raises many excellent points here, but the basic premise of "property rights" isn't exactly relevant in many cases these days. A person's right to control his or her own property pretty much ends when they agree to have it serviced by a public water system, public roadway, public sewer, etc.

[NMC EXP]

A person's right to control his or her own property pretty much ends when they agree to have it serviced by a public water system, public roadway, public sewer, etc.

I don't really agree with the specifics you mention relative to property rights. But if we take it to the top level just don't pay your property taxes for a couple of years and you will find out who actually owns your property.

Regards

J.R.

[ridesthemiles]

As sprawl gets further and further out into the rural areas, the attachment to "public sewers", public water", etc isn't often a choice. You are required to do so at whatever price they deem you must pay- whether you can afford it or not- and they will condemn your well and septic tank to force you onto their system. There is a serious movement afoot in Calif to have water meters put on EVERY PRIVATE WELL and make the landowner pay a percieved "owner" of this water. The property owner paid for the drilling of the well, pays for the constant electricity to pump the water, etc, and there is NO REIMBURSEMENT for this improvement to the property. The courts judged in Los Angeles County that the Department of Water and Power OWNED all the water in the county, and that they could charge for the well water usage. I never did find out what they would do if you set up a large gutter collection system into a holding tank for the rain water. I suppose they think they think that is theirs, also. Lots and lots of intrusions onto "private property".
In Wisconsin, where I used to own a 2nd house, the greenies have passed a law that requires you to have your septic "inspected" every 2 years and you must pay the service people for this and pay a FEE to the county to prove that a septic tank that has NEVER given you problems is not giving you problems every 24 months. Nothing to prevent it from becoming every 12 months or 6 months or....There has not been a problem with the septic tank or leech lines on that house since it was built in 1966 since my Dad built it to 150% of specs required and always was careful. Never a garbage disposer- had a Labrador instead.Still it now costs way toooo much to meets this new law. But some Educated Idiot knows better.....

[SierraWasp]

"Equitable Servitude," eh? Another bizarre, un-American concept dreamed up by busybody lawyers and activist judges!!!

Anything to blast "rugged individualism" into non-existance and corral the populace into compact developments with little trucks with yellow lights on top and "COMPLIANCE/ENFORCEMENT" magnetic signs on their doors, right?

Anything to conform to the late arrived "exurban" refugee from the megolopolis who just moved in to the "urban/rural interface," determined to "protect" his/her new domain from any new homes, or especially (gasp) any new "Multi-Family" affordable housing for "Those People," right?