The Right To Property: An Essential To Freedom

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In John Locke’s The Second Treatise of Civil Government he says that “being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” John Locke stated that nearly a full century before the Declaration of Independence in 1776, yet his ideas for what freedom should entail can be found throughout not only the Declaration, but the United States Constitution as well. Locke understood that people have a social need for property ownership and how they should not be denied the ability to fulfill that need. The inadequacy of government to allow for the rights of property ownership, as well as protect those rights, limits the freedom and happiness of those governed. People should have the right to be able to own property because it raises financial security and success, as well as supports individual freedom and happiness. First of all, property ownership grants the owner increased financial benefits that could not be attained otherwise. The Internal Revenue Service offers home buyers to receive many different tax breaks during the purchase of a house. Real estate taxes, which are charged annually on the value of real property, can be deducted if all real property in the community has a like rate (Internal Revenue Service). The portion of mortgage payment that covers interest on the loan may also be used as a deduction during tax season. An itemized deduction is also allowed for premiums paid for mortgage insurance (Internal Revenue Service). Furthermore, having an open loan account that is paid on time “shows that you can manage and maintain the account responsibly over a period of time” (Templeton). Not only do open accounts help but closed accounts, which have had a good payment history are ... ... middle of paper ... ...orest out of poverty and into a successful life. Works Cited “John Locke – Quotes”. The European Graduate School. European Graduate School EGS, 2014. Web. 24 March 2014. Noles, et al. “Children’s and Adults’ Intuitions about Who Can Own Things”. Journal of Cognition and Culture, 12 (2012) 265-286. Web. 24 March 2014. Gelman, et al. “The Nonobvious Basis of Ownership: Preschool Children Trace the History and Value of Owned Objects.” Child Development, 83.5 (2012): 1732-1747. Web. 24 March 2014. Templeton, Deanna. “How Does Paying Off a Loan Affect Your Credit Score?” Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo, 20 February 2013. Web. 24 March 2014. “Loan Savings Calculator”. myFico. Fair Isaac Corporation, 2014. Web. 25 March 2014. “Publication 530”. IRS. Internal Revenue Service, n.d. Web. 25 March 2014. “Declaration of Independence”. The Charters of Freedom. Web. 26 March 2014.

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