Part One, American Government and U.S. Constitution

Lesson 15: Principle 14 -Property Rights Essential to Liberty

Name: _______________________

Part II: The Founders' Basic Principles –	28 Great Ideas that Changed the World

Lesson 15 Time: 45:41 [for Sunday June 8, 2014]

The 5000 Year Leap: 14th Principle: Reading Assignment:
Property Rights Essential to Liberty (pages 169-77);

Lesson objectives: As a result of this lesson, the student should be able to discuss the following questions/topics:

1. According to English common law, what is the origin of property? (Pages 169-70)

English Common Law = People's Law (Roman Civil Law = Ruler's Law)

-it's common to all people

2. What does "ownership" mean, and why is it necessary to help man subdue and gain dominion over the earth? (170)

o Land and its products were gift of God

-God gave the world to man

-Man given reason to make the best use of it

-Command to "subdue," "have dominion"

o Dominion:

-Control

-Exclusiveness (ownership)

o Private rights in property necessary

3. Without property rights, what four things would happen? (170-71)

Without property rights (4 results)

(Just when improvement is done, covetous neighbor would take)

[Nabal's Vineyard & Ahab is a clear biblical example-cpl]

o Destroy incentive

o Deprived of fruits of labor

o Marauding bands forcible take

o Society on bare subsistence level

4. Why is an attack on private property rights actually an attack on life itself? (171-72)

Property is Extension of life

o Locke: Property is result of life, energy, ingenuity

o To destroy property is attack on life itself!

Icon illustrations – cultivate a farm – food by hunting – carving a statue – earning wages

- life is projected into that property (Locke quote)

5. How is ownership acquired? (172)

At What Point is Ownership Acquired?

o At the first gathering of nature

(- when you add labor, you add value that is owned by you alone!)

o What if we own it all in common?

-Would need the consent of every person! (quote)

6. Which should be regarded as sacred, property or property rights? (172-73)

What is sacred?

o Property or the right to property?

-The right to property

o U.S. Supreme Court (p173) not "of" property.

o Abraham Lincoln (p174)

-Why let people become rich?

-To show others they can be

7. What is the primary purpose of government? (173-75)

Primary Purpose of Government

o Protect property

o Essential to liberty

o What about transfer payments?

8. How has history proven the value of property rights? (176)

o Davy Crocket story

– he was a TX congressman, "Georgetown" burning, money from govt to rebuild, farmer plowing refused support 'Horacio Bunch,' DC apologized for money spent wrongly.

o No right of government (quote)

[to take taxpayer money and spend it for any unlawful aid or any other support]

9. How do we care for the poor without violating property rights? (176-77)

How do we care for the poor?

o anybody but the federal government

Grover Cleveland (democrat) - vetoed aid bill (p177)

-"though the people support the government, the government should not support the people"

o Poor helped by friendliness and charity.

"kindly sentiment which strengthens bonds"– GC [individuals, charities, corporations, communities, etc. giving voluntarily]