Rights of Property Owners

The primary basis for the greatness of America is the fundamental belief in individual rights. That sacred premise is being more and more rapidly diluted and is on the way out. A chilling reality, indeed.

The most recent and glaring example is the misguided SOAR [Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources] initiative. It is unconscionable that a group of people would have the temerity to attempt to legislate what a property owner can and can’t do with his / her property. Furthermore, legal provisions are already in place to protect agriculture and open space.

Granted that elected officeholders do not always do the job they were sent to do. However, it would be more productive to use our energy to unseat the offending officeholder rather than to initiate an additional layer of government.

Should we “legislate” whether a homeowner can build a dog house in his backyard, depriving the atmosphere of a garden, and should this question be taken to the voters for a decision?

KARROL MAUGHMER

Oxnard