PROPERTY RIGHTS

Now that the legislating period is nearly over, it has become, once
again, clear to me that all our local legislators tend to restrict
rather than defend rights to property. To be fair however, not in all
aspects, but in two very important areas: Eminent domain and personal
property. Both concern the right to own and utilize property in any
manner that does not infringe or interfere with this same right
endowed by each individual.

First let me define property as that which a person owns; person as a
human being; own as belonging to self; and utilize as to put to use;
all defined in the Random House dictionary. Every human being owns
property, the most important being his or herself. Even the poorest
of beings has that as a possession as long as they are alive and has
the right to use that simple possession in any manner that does not
harm to any or all other beings. In exercising this personal right,
individuals tend to gain additional property such as clothes, tools
and real estate on which to utilize the tools, etc. If in gaining
additional property one has done so through voluntary and honorable
actions via other human beings, then one should be thought to own and
use said properties in any manner chosen.

With this said, let me return to the issues at hand.

The eminent domain bill that was sent to the governor expands the
present powers of eminent domain allowing private companies to
condemn private property for a use when deemed as a "public good"
thus taking this option from the actual owner(s) and thus denying
them the right to utilize this property in a manner most important to
them. This bill affects all those who have been fortunate enough to
extend their properties to the realm of real estate.

The bill to regulate marijuana however, will affect even those who
have only themselves as property. For if one is the sole owner of the
body in which one finds their self, then they should be the one to
utilize this body in any manner that does not harm others. This would
include the right to eat, drink, inhale or ingest food or medicines
at their pleasure. Again, without harming these same rights of others.

Until our legislators come to understand that the right to property
is an inalienable personal right of every human being, then all
rights will always be in jeopardy of being violated and prosecuted by
those in authority. Once again, freedom is the issue.

David A. Merrick

Corvallis