With the federal government nationalizing banks and automobile companies, rewriting mortgages, and spitting on the sanctity of contracts, it was only a matter of time before state and local governments began emulating it. Especially when they get federal money to do so.
The city of Aurora, Colorado, got a $5 million federal grant to buy homes in foreclosure. So that's what they're doing. By outbidding private individuals and investors for the properties.
(Note: I tried to embed the video, but the code from kdvr.com doesn't seem to work. The link above should take you to their video. As of now, there is no text version of the story.)
I've seen significant advances in liberty — both social and economic — throughout my adult life. And because of that, and my own inherently optimistic nature, I've always felt pretty good about the future. No more. Toward the end of the Bush Administration, I saw that trend grind to a halt. And in the early months of the Obama Administration, I've seen it reversed with a vengeance.
We're not just re-creating the dreadful Carter years, we're descending headlong into the socialist and statist policies that crippled the Great Britain of half a century ago.
If and when I'm ever able to contemplate retirement, Costa Rica is looking more and more appealing. Those of you who are still young have my sympathy — and my sincere hope that you'll have the good sense and courage to reverse this trend.
