Thumbnail from Zillow 112Last month, Cascadians handed a stunning defeat to the so-called property rights ballot measures across the Northwest that would have granted unprecedented freedom to property owners. Does this signify a rejection of a bedrock value for northwesterners—freedom?

Not at all, argues Alan Durning in his recent essay on freedom and property values. Rather, Cascadians understand how our individual freedom is protected by democratic standards.

Just look at Zillow.com, the property value website where you can see your home as part of the network of your neighborhood. Looking your home up is a clear reminder that what your neighbor does affects the value of your property. And that’s just the beginning of how we are interconnected.

Read Alan Durning’s essay.