A significant portion of property rights issues occur at the local level—zoning, land-use regulations, preservation ordinances, and controls on short-term rentals being among the most common. Often, neighbor opposes neighbor over a proposal or ordinance regarding these issues.
In most instances, these conflicts become highly emotional. The debate typically consists of a series of claims and counter-claims. One side makes assertions and the other tries to rebut them. With this approach, civil discourse is impossible, and the inevitable result is an angry argument that frustrates everyone.
Fundamentally, the cause of this breakdown is the way the discussion is framed. The result is a free-for-all in which anything goes. The debate wanders from point to point, many of which are irrelevant. Each side makes assumptions about the other, many of which are wrong. With this approach, animosity is inevitable. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
If the discussion is properly framed, we can have a constructive conversation. With proper framing, we can avoid angry arguments and move others closer to our position. Establishing the framework must precede a discussion of the facts, because the framework will determine how those facts are processed and evaluated. The first step in establishing the framework is to identify the specific issue that will be discussed.
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