As a lifelong Granite Stater with roots stretching back to when my grandparents first sought a better life in Salem in 1954, I feel a deep connection to this land and its people. My story is not unique; it’s woven from the same fabric of hope and opportunity that has drawn countless others to New Hampshire.
Yet, as we stand at a crossroads, facing a housing crisis that threatens the very essence of our community, it’s time for a candid conversation about what the future holds for us and the generations that follow.
House Bill 1291 and House Bill 1399 have ignited a debate that goes beyond mere policy. It touches on the core values that define us: freedom, property rights, and the individualism that has long been the bedrock of our state. Critics of these bills have conjured up visions of high-rise apartments sprawling across our single-family neighborhoods and out-of-state invaders displacing our communities. These claims are not just unfounded; they betray a misunderstanding of what these bills represent and the principles they uphold.
We have over 250,000 Granite Staters under the age of 18 here in New Hampshire. On average, we will or have spent roughly $240,000 per student in public education. Where are these investments supposed to live upon their graduation and entrance into adulthood? Both bills are about empowering homeowners, revitalizing our communities, and ensuring that the investment we’ve made in our youth pays dividends right here at home rather than being exported as our young people leave for lack of affordable housing.
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Thomas Hobbes, in Leviathan, spoke to the chaos of a world without clear property rights: “It is also a result of this same condition that there be no propriety, no dominion, no mine and thine distinct; but only that to be every man’s that he can get, and for so long as he can keep it.” John Locke also famously held, emphasizing the law of nature that teaches us “that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” These philosophical foundations remind us that the freedom to use one’s property as one sees fit is a cornerstone of a free society.
Yet, there are those among us who, while loudly proclaiming their allegiance to property rights, seek to impose their will on their neighbors’ lands. This contradiction is not lost on those of us who value genuine liberty. If one truly wishes to control a piece of property, the market provides a clear path: purchase it. This principle, supported by libertarian thought and the teachings of the Bible, underscores the sanctity of private property rights.
I must level with you, my fellow Granite Staters. The generation that has been the most vocal against preserving individual property rights has, through their actions, shifted our once solidly Republican state towards a more divided political landscape. Their insistence on exclusionary practices and policies has not only undermined the principles they claim to uphold but has also pushed our state party to the brink. It’s time to reject the fearmongering and falsehoods peddled by those who have lost sight of what truly makes New Hampshire great. Exclusionary zoning and strict regulations on who can and cannot build is turning our state blue. The towns with the harshest zoning regulations are, in fact, turning blue the fastest; this isn’t a coincidence.
Our state’s history, including the post-New Deal era and the development patterns that followed, has led us to a point where our towns and cities face economic unsustainability. The infrastructure burdens and regulatory overreach have devalued our land and stifled our growth. HB1291 and HB1399 offer a chance to reverse these trends, allowing for the development of accessory dwelling units (or “cottages”) and duplexes, thereby revitalizing our communities and making them economically viable once more.
Let us not be swayed by those who bear false witness against prosperity. My Bible teaches me the value of truth and the importance of bearing witness to it. As we consider the future of housing in New Hampshire, let us remember the investments we’ve made in our youth and the promise of a better life that drew my grandparents—and many of yours—to this beautiful state.
In supporting HB1291 and HB1399, we affirm our commitment to the foundational values of liberty, property rights, and individualism. We open the door to a future where every Granite Stater and those who wish to join our community can find a place to call home. Let’s embrace these changes, not as a departure from our values but as a return to them, ensuring that New Hampshire remains a beacon of freedom and opportunity for generations to come.
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Author: Joe Sweeney
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