Criminalizing Everything: Garage Sales Under Attack
Submitted by FLhomeschoolingMommy on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 07:57Garage Sales Under Attack"
by Erin Rhodes
The yard sale at 722 Center Ave. has been canceled. That much is clear.
The rest of the story, including allegations that police threatened to arrest the 80-year-old homeowner because she didn’t have a permit? Not so much.
The facts are these: After 60 years in Holly Hill, Pauline Liles is moving to Tennessee to live with her daughter’s family. Her husband, Jack, is already there, having suffered a stroke that has immobilized him. Pauline, an old hand at yard sales, was hoping to sell most of their stuff before joining him next week.
She advertised the three-day sale in the newspaper, but when she went to the city first thing Wednesday to purchase the $5 permit, it was denied. The city currently allows just two such sales in a year, and city officials said Liles had already met her limit.
Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Hea...
The story continues on, Mayor Roland Via said "rules are necessary to protect neighborhoods from anyone trying to run a business out of their house." So here we have another 'we are just trying to protect you.' Um, So now we can't sell our old stuff on our property because we might be trying to run a business... I have several problems with stories such as these:
First, anyone who as studied economy and/or history knows than when an economy is not doing well, as is the case today, a sort of black market or underground market will arise due to the peoples survival instincts. Consider, a family of 5 in which both parents work and they lead a pretty comfortable life. One parent looses their job and can't seem to find work. Suddenly, people who wouldn't think of wasting an entire day trying to sell what they consider clutter for next to nothing, really could use that hundred bucks. Simultaneously, the collage girl who wouldn't dream of wearing anything second hand, is pregnant with her second child and decides to stay home because the daycare would cost more than her salary would earn. She will have to be very frugal to survive on just her husbands income! She could sure use those very nice infant clothes and that stroller, and the family of 5 could sure use the $15 bucks... Happy ending right?
Wrong, we must protect the corporations! This evilness must be stopped at all costs! 'We are losing MONEY!!!' Do you suppose they have money to, I don't know, bribe some politicians into passing laws and regulations to counteract this loss of sales? NO, they wouldn't do that, American corporations are to honorable. And anyway, American politicians would never accept a bribe, they represent the people and that is that!
Secondly, I am sick and tired of being punished and harassed for misuse of the rules by others! They have been doing this to me since kindergarten. If one kid miss-behaves you will ALL be punished... I am not responsible for the actions of another, I am only responsible for MY actions. If someone abuses the rules or breaks the law, deal with them. Do not ASSUME that I will break the rules/law and so must have limitations set upon me in order to force me to behave. In the America our for fathers foresaw that I am Innocent until proven guilty. I am not a child and if I need to sell some of MY stuff on MY property, to make ends meet, I should NOT have to get anybodies permission. Much less pay a fee!!!
And Lastly, even if that nice old lady WAS trying to put food in her mouth by running a business out of her home I say "you go girl"! There is a woman in my neighborhood who does have a garage sale EVERY Saturday. So ok, some of you might say "well it is annoying trying to get down the road to my house with all those cars parked around her house each Saturday." I say to you, when did you loose your humanity? Have you no compassion? Would you rather she applied for welfare? Or maybe stood on a corner holding a sign begging for assistance? All so you can reach your destination without waiting the 60 seconds it sometimes takes to navigate the excess of cars? She needed money and did something about it! In fact, I make a point to ride bikes with my 10 year old son throughout our neighborhood on Saturday mornings, looking for treasures, and always check out what she has. My son is now very frugal with his allowance, by the way...
To conclude, this is an attempt to stifle any competition to the corporations. To make you leery of selling your old stuff by placing restrictions, fines, and penalties for recalled goods on anyone who attempts to do so. This is just another example of government intrusion in our lives. It is only two peoples business in such a transaction, the buyer's and the seller's. When I buy something at a garage sale, I know I am taking a chance. It might be faulty, and I must assess the risk. If I am willing to pay what the seller is willing to settle for then it is OUR business. Its called using your own judgment. I know, what a novel idea, right? And just in case you think this is just some random event that won't directly affect you at some point in the future I would like to point out a few articles that I think are relevant to this subject.
Seller, beware: Feds cracking down on garage sales
In this article you are asked to believe the government is, again, trying to help you, the consumer, from unsafe products. Never mind about punishing the maker of the product., No no, we must stop the RE-sell of the product. Hey, I have a solution! Instead of spying on America's garage sales, how bout we press criminal charges against the person/company who committed a crime? Shouldn't a company who allows mercury in a children's product be punished??? Now that would be extreme!
article link: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/74102.html
New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales nationwide
link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,552021,00.html
Burden of Safety Law Imperils Small Toymakers
link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/business/smallbusiness/31t...
Baby sitting criminalized link:
http://www.infowars.com/babysitting-criminalized/
Selling Used Video Games Now Requires Essentially Getting Booked
link: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/05/used_video_g...
Federal SWAT raid over...orchids
link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/05/criminalizin...
You're (Probably) a Federal Criminal
link: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/07/21/heritage-house-law/
The Sheriff Project
http://usa1911.com/scm/index
I
Live in a wealthy suburb, people have yard sales all the time everywhere around here. We love them, especially ones that are frequent so we know where to look for them.
Many people in my town leave things they have out-grown aside the road with "free" signs on them for people who are less fortunate, or just in need. It appears that is an "eye soar" to some people here, I say if that is you, you are heartless. Not everyone is capable of purchasing brand new shiny trinkets from 50k square foot warehouses 30 miles away.
When I first heard you were supposed to get a permit for yard sales I had the same exact reaction as I did when i first heard Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, speechless. Needless to say no one actually get's permits for yard sales around here, and rightfully so. Should the local Police start enforcing that law I would full expect home owners in the neighborhood to revolt against it.
An "eye soar". hahhahhahhaa how ridiculous.
If she is not making noise,
If she is not making noise, and not spewing pollution onto her neighbors' lot, she is doing nothing wrong. Whether she sells stuff from her garage, or parks her car in her garage is nobody's business but hers. And at the same time as they refuse to let people peacefully sell stuff at garage sales, local busybodies pretty much always look away at blatant noise pollution from the 90% of Americans that are so blatantly incompetent they can't even manage to keep their neglected yap trash quiet. This place really is becoming a genuine, four star shithole. At all levels, local to federal.
I dont believe in these
I dont believe in these nuesance laws. It is there property. Sure I'd get annoyed if a neighbor did it constantly but is my annoyance worthy of taking away someone liberty? I always tell people that we all have rights, especially the right to be offended. You have the power to leave. Sure moving isn't that easy but you picked the neighborhood. Before I bought my house I reconned the place for a week or so to get a feel for the daily nuesenses. Traffic noise? Loud dog? You can make polite requests from you neighor but in the America I want live in you still have the right to be an asshole if that's what you choose. Just don't come to me when you need a helping hand. You reap what you soe.
I am an Oath Keeper!
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Finally HOME! For Good!
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I am an Oath Keeper
I am an Agnostic
I am a father and I want my children to know true freedom in their lifetime.
Yard Sales
I just found out that there are rules for yard sales. The government will do anything to make money.I have been living in my mortgaged home for 24 years now. My neighborhood is a yard sale. Just like some of the descriptions i have read: High rent, cars in the driveway, a virtual "melting pot" of culture. Colors are black, white, brown, yellow, even a little red with the Seminole Indians close by. Various languages, in the "Hood", as well. English, French, Creole, Italian, Spanish, and lest I forget "Ebonics." The thing that bothers me most is that the people will never return to remove those god dam yard sale signs when they are finished. I don't mind the yard sales. I knew what the neighborhood was like b4 I bought the house. I DO mind the fact that the government will perhaps try to "govern" something that is completely acceptable in my environment.
Traffic congestion has eased up recently. There are so many foreclosures around that there is plenty of parking. Oh, by the way, foreclosures will do a number on your property value, not yard sales.
Garage sales from mass unemployed undermine corporate profits
Debra Medina for Texas Governor 2010!
Rand Paul for US Senate in Kentucky!
Ron Paul 2012, Join or Die!
DONT TREAD ON ME
AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN - WASHINGTON'S CRUISERS
"Religious people fear hell...
...Spiritual people (including our Savior) have lived it." -my friend
Leave Us Alone and Bring the Troops Home
why is she asking permission?
Just do it. Have the yard sale. What did my english teach use to tell me "it is better to ask forgiveness than permission".
Furthermore until we get the jurors informed and on our side (plus the judges we elect, and the DAs) we are going to lose all the battles.
I agree with Rhino on this one
It's a nucance (sp?) law.
It's like loud music -- they will either come and ask you to desist, but only if there is a complaint.
When a neighborhood starts to go to rent (like ours) you get people moving in who will "work on cars" (as a business) right in there driveway -- run a daycare with noisey kids (who throw stuff in your yard) -- or the worst the constant weekend garage sale.
We have a neighbor who runs one every weekend -- I wouldn't call it in, but the street gets packed.
I imagine she goes to the various swap meets and comes back loaded.
It's an eye-sore -- It also makes everyone a little sensitive when other garage sales happen (more naturally).
Having these things on your block can effect property values.
We are moving to a better neighborhood (renting) where a housing association exists.
That's the answer. You gotta predict when the neighborhood goes to rent you better be moving.
I would never own a home, but I want to live in a neighborhood of home-owners, smile. Or a housing association.
Octobox
*&^ Constitution --- Constitutional Rationality
Homeowners' associations should be able
to set rules, if it's all agreed to voluntarily up front. Some neighborhoods would have stricter ones, some minimal. People could choose. I don't think city-wide codes could realistically be voluntary.
But Octo, in most of your posts you urge us to implement independent economies. That's what the garage-sale, car-fixing, day care people are trying to do. Of course in any neighborhood one should be courteous and thoughtful of one's neighbors. Just because you want to run a business at home doesn't mean you should feel entitled to pollute with noise and trash. And a home business that congests the street, using up all the parking spots is not considerate.
If neighborhood associations were more common and built stronger bonds among local people, these issues could be worked out without force.
Reedr: One persons freedom should not interfere with anothers
For me -- my home is a castle and the neighborhood has "normal" traffic and is in "normal" use.
It is ab-normal to have a noisy business established in a residential neighborhood.
You would understand this if I said I wanted to put my Fog-Horn manufacturing shop next to your house -- hahahahahaha.
I have to test my horns -- I mean you want me to be "free" as the day-care, oily mechanic, and garage sale people right? Smile.
I never said I would go to the city to work it out -- did I?
I said I would never live in a neighborhood like that or not for long.
I'm availing myself of what Ron Paul calls "voting with your feet" -- I protest by moving.
There is absolutely nothing contrarian to liberty in my previous post.
I'M AGAINST CRIMINALIZING GARAGE SALES (HAHAHA) -- for heaven sakes, smile.
I would think all my posts would cover the fact that I'm an EXTREME Individualist.
I just don't want to live near or next to all that mess -- there's no LIBERTY in it for me.
Octobox
*&^ Constitution --- Constitutional Rationality
I see, so you are willing to
I see, so you are willing to sacrifice your liberties to protect YOUR "property value"? But is it really YOUR property if you must seek permission to use it as you please? Did you even read my article?
How dare someone try to make some money by working on cars, running a daycare, or having constant garage sales on their property! Didn't they consider YOUR feelings on the matter? Don't they realize their neighbors property value will go down if they attempt to put food on their table by honest means? Or that their neighbors might be inconvenienced?
Yes, that must be why there is a need for regulation and restrictions, again it is just to help you! Thank you clearing this matter up for me... NOT!
The argument you put forth is not only against everything this country once stood for but also completely lacking in human compassion and understanding! It is nothing like playing loud music! It is about survival! You must have money in order to LIVE. Again, I urge you to re-read the article and our constitution (especially that part about the right to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS). Oh, and reading "Attlas Shrugged" should be required reading as well! It is because of people with your line of thought that so many turn to welfare and begging! Not to mention I completely disagree with you on property loss being caused by the "problems" you stated...
FLMommy: I home-schooled my child as well
I've been studying Austrian Economics and Kenyesian Economics (collegiate) since 1990 -- I voted for RP in 1988.
In the neighborhood where I live now the garage sales are happening all the time -- within the last few years as the houses have all gone to rent. On the weekends we have a traffic increase of 40 to 80 more cars then normal -- parking becomes an issue and people are pooring through the neighborhood of questionable character.
In a "free-society" people would not have police forces (paid by taxes) -- Not in an RP Minarchism, nor a Mises Minarchism, nor in a Rothbardian-Capitalist Anarchy. Therefore to protect themselves they'd develop housing associations and private security.
I would chose to live in a housing association that DOES NOT allow garage sales -- I would NEVER say let's go into someone elses neighborhood and force them to not have them.
I kind of doubt what I said smacks against the Constitution.
I agreed with Rhino -- I then stated I do not believe in the "right" to strew garbarge all over ones driveway on a regular basis -- it is an eye-sore.
I never said NOT ONCE that I think the city should create laws -- did Rhino say that? If he did maybe I didn't read him carefully.
I said "home associations" -- I gave my opinion on regular garage sales and property values.
I never said "get the law and create 'rights' or 'advantages' for those that agree with me"
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness goes both ways -- as long as one group does not have advantage over another in a voluntary society there is peace. If I value my Life-Liberty-Happiness as normal traffic through my neighborhood and you do not impede that by increasing traffic with REGULAR garage sales then my freedom is protected. If you have the RARE garage sale then I should not impede your "happiness.'
When I said "home association" that's consistent with a free-society.
Octobox
*&^ Constitution --- Constitutional Rationality
I second
.
Dear Mam
"It's an eye-sore -- "
Get over yourself.
Most zoning codes have had this rule for decades.
No more than 2 per year.
Can not go for more than two days.
All merchandise must be brought in at sun down.
There is nothing new about this.
For what it is worth ...
Most towns will simply mail her an order to comply ...
and give her thirty days to comply.
If she is moving.
Go ahead and have the sale.
What could they do?
Just in case ...
have a video camera present.
If she does get arrested ...
I bet she could make out big time on a chip-in.
WAHOR!!
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/48994
WAHOR!!
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/48994
Glad I had my garage sale.
I sensed this was coming. Poor lady, I wonder if she could sell her stuff through craigs list or have an auction. The only thing she can do is try and go around the rules by reading them very carefully.
Prepare & Share the Message of Freedom through Positive-Peaceful-Activism.
Great article!
Plain common sense reasoning. However, that is rarely the premise on which such rules/regulations/bills are passed. "Control" rather than common sense seems to guide their agenda. When will the madness end? When things get so bad that survival outweighs obeying every 1,000 regulations in one's world?