By Bruce L. Benson Private prosecution of crimes has a long and sordid history, and that history isn’t over. Bounty hunters no longer hound innocent people to death as some did in England in the mid-18th century, but environmental groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council have modified the tactic. They use "citizen suits"Continue reading “Environmental Bounty-Hunting”
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Lessons from British Columbia: Public Forest Management
Although the forests of British Columbia, Canada, are 96 percent government-owned, the management of the forests is far more market-driven than in the U.S. Forest Service.
The 19th Century Comanche
These Plains Indians had a legal system based on accepted rules of conduct and individual rights.
Self-Determination –
A return to property rights and the rule of law would restore economic strength and stewardship to American Indian Economies.
American Indian Collectivism
The reservation system, instituted in the nineteenth century, destroyed the successful property rights systems of the past.
Indian Sovereignty –
Tribal sovereignty is an achievement, but just as important in enabling Indians to be entrepreneurial is recognizing the role of the individual.
A Modern Potlatch?
British Columbia could resolve its conflicts over salmon by an auction that resembles the ‘rivalry potlatches’ of the past.
The Importance of Property Rights
Economic evidence reveals that property rights are more critical for prosperity than an efficient method of settling contractual disputes.
Poachers to Rangers
In the heart of Cambodia is the most important waterbird zone in mainland Southeast Asia. At Prek Toal, just-hatched chicks peep in deafening high tones, while larger birds take off, land, and perform mid-air acrobatics. Many rare and endangered birds make their home here, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the edge of Tonle Sap, SoutheastContinue reading “Poachers to Rangers”
Cities Adopt Green Tops
When the elevator stops on the top floor of some of the world’s newest downtown skyscrapers, the occupants may be in for a surprise. Before them may be a field of waving native grasses and a stunning display of wildflowers. Birds chirp, and butterflies go about their business without even noticing they are in midtownContinue reading “Cities Adopt Green Tops”