Overregulation Disincentivizing

For John, BLUF:  Nebby neighbors are the spark that lights this kind of fire.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From The Atlantic we have "The Danger of Being Neighborly Without a Permit", by Writer Conor Friedersdorf.  It is all summed up by this subhead line, "All over America, people have put small "give one, take one" book exchanges in front of their homes.  Then they were told to tear them down."

The power to require permits is the power to prevent something from ever existing. This lovely movement would've never begun or spread if everyone who wanted to build a Little Free Library recognized a need to apply and pay for a permit. Instead they did good and asked permission never.

I think the author captures the essence of the problem here.

This is what conservatives and libertarians mean when they talk about overregulation disincentivizing or displacing voluntary activity that benefits people.

Hat tip to the Althouse blog.

Regards  —  Cliff