One of the core tenets of a Libertarian approach to governing is that government powers should be confined to the narrowest range necessary.
This is because Libertarians believe that the government is seldom able to make decisions as effectively as individuals. Each individual is able to take into account lots of factors that may affect his or her decision, whereas the government is not — this leads to generally better outcomes when most decisions are left to individuals.
Expansive government powers also means there is more incentive for individuals or groups to influence government decisions in their favor — the more power governments gain, the more people can benefit from favorable government decisions that affect them.
Often, the examples used to support these points are abstract concepts — like farming subsidies that have less tangible effects on the average UNC student.
Luckily for the purposes of this column, but unluckily for many students, there is an example of all of this right here in Chapel Hill.
I am speaking of the town ordinance that prohibits more than four unrelated people from living in the same residence. The DTH editorial board has called this ordinance “unrealistic” and “unfair” toward landlords and tenants.
The ordinance is distorting the market — it forces students to pay more for rent than they would if there was no restriction and forces landlords to limit their clients and profits.
Moreover, the ordinance is inconsistently enforced — some students took the risk that they would not be discovered and now face removal from their homes and are scrambling to find new housing for the next semester.
Non-student residents of Chapel Hill have voiced concerns that removing the ordinance would encourage noise or parking violations. But removing the ordinance would not also render parking regulations and noise ordinances void. The housing ordinance is inefficient and unnecessary.
