I applaud President Obama’s support for building the so-called ground zero mosque. As a Christian, I disagree with the Islamic religion, but I also disagree with interfering in the exercise of one’s faith by government mandates or restrictions.
Importantly, religious freedom, which was the basis for the president’s defense of the mosque’s construction, is really a by-product of property rights. People should be able to voluntarily gather on their private property and mutually exercise their religion without interference from government so long as they do not infringe on others’ rights.
What is missed by Obama (and other government officials) is the extension of those same rights elsewhere. For example, people should also be allowed to voluntarily gather on private property to mutually engage in production and exchange without interference from government, but mandating employer-provided health insurance, the proposed cap-and-trade legislation, and wage and price controls are just examples where government violates property rights in the market.
Moreover, income and property taxes are evidence that the government ignores property rights by assuming ownership of all wages and land.
So, Obama’s defense of property rights is laudable, but falls short. Sporadic protection of property is really no protection at all.
MICHAEL KITCHENS, South Lebanon Twp.