Terri Schiavo is facing the same question with which I confront my students on their first day of “Property” class: “do you own yourself?” As the ownership of any property interest finds expression in who gets to exercise ultimate decision-making control, this case – and how it is discussed – illustrates the paucity of understanding regarding property principles. I also try to get across to my students how and why all of our social problems are related to a failure to respect the inviolability of one another’s property interests. The sight of competing political and religious functionaries elbowing one another … Continue reading More on the Schiavo case

Again, I am not in praise of the Bush Administration or Republicans for this latest show of legislative angst. But the record of the left and right when it comes to the taking of innocent life is pretty reprehensible. For example, my own church is “pro-life” when it comes to abortion, but had no problem with the current U.S. mayhem and carnage in Iraq. Leftists, on the other hand, see no problem with abortion and even infanticide. (A survey of Princeton University faculty members found them to be quite surprised that anyone would oppose the views of Peter Singer, who … Continue reading More on the Schiavo Case