From: bj
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2016 12:35 PM
To: walter block
Subject: Your Recent LRC Blog Post on Tort Law

Professor Block: I read with interest your recent LRC blog post which detailed how private settlements and tort law could solve true egregious private property rights violations:

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/private-roads-air-pollution/

I also read the excellent Murray Rothbard recommended reading which you provided in the blog post. This viewpoint intrigues me. However, wouldn’t this form of private settlement only work for: A.) wealthy people who could afford to bring the private property rights violator (ex: the polluter who came AFTER I homesteaded the land first) to court; or B.) for individuals who are part of a homeowners association or other form of union that can lobby on their behalf? In other words, how would the poor family living in a run-down urban house solve the private property rights violation when they don’t have the time or money to sue or go to court? That’s why many liberals argue that we need taxes to stop some of these problems, although I disagree with that analysis. Thanks for your help. BJ

Dear BJ: This is an excellent question/challenge. The answer I think it that the poor will not be likely to be property owners. Rather, renters. And, their landlord will take care of issues like this. The landlord will have the wherewithal and incentive to do so, in order to maximize profits from renting out his property. WalMart takes steps to ensure its customers have a safe experience for and in much the same way. “What about the poor?” in general? The poor are much better off in the free society than even the middle class in less free societies.

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