Rancher and columnist Amanda Radke correctly notes that freedom and property rights are inseparable. And then she promptly attacks property rights because she picks the wrong enemy:
We have a real David and Goliath story happening in agriculture right now. Independent farmers and ranchers are being thrown to the wolves in favor of the corporate oligarchies that are running America.
She implies that this is somehow a violation of property rights. It isn’t.
The right to property means the freedom to produce, use, and trade material values. Farmers and ranchers have the right to sell their land if they so choose. The right to property protects their freedom to accept a “sweetheart deal and some quick cash,” as Radke puts it, or reject such an offer.
We don’t always like how others choose to exercise their property rights. But if we want the freedom to produce, trade, and use material values, then we must respect and defend the freedom of others to do the same. And that includes large corporations.
Radke wants us to believe that Big Ag is bad, just like Big Tech and Big Pharma supposedly are. However, consolidating an industry does not violate anyone’s property rights. Big Ag may dominate the market, but it can’t stop independent ranchers and farmers like Radke from producing and trading. Only government can do that. Only government can impose “burdensome regulations” and “crippling red tape.” Only government can force “activist agendas” upon farmers and ranchers.
If Radke truly wants to protect and defend property rights, then she should be attacking the “burdensome regulations” and “crippling red tape” that hinders production and trade. She should be attacking these government policies rather than large businesses. If Radke cares about property rights, Big Ag is the wrong enemy.