Suing Polluters over... property damage?

[retributionnk]

From Paul's website: "The key to sound environmental policy is respect for private property rights. The strict enforcement of property rights corrects environmental wrongs while increasing the cost of polluting... In a free market, no one is allowed to pollute his neighbor's land, air, or water. If your property is being damaged, you have every right to sue the polluter, and government should protect that right."

This was on Ron Paul's website, and is his take on how to deal with pollution. This is very bold! While I agree with the premise of what he's saying, I hate the fact that Americans are so quick to sue! I'll use the infamous "I was burned by McDonald's negligence (and coffee)" case that happened a while back. A lady wins a whole heap of money from a major corporation because she spilled her coffee. Ridiculous!

Please don't think that I am trying to parallel something like pollution to a spilled cofee case, I was just using it to show how sue-happy Americans are.

[DoctorP]

IMO...Ron Paul is just saying what he thinks will get him votes. One good question (which I do not know the answer to) would be where does your ownership of your property end? Do you own the air above your property? If so, how high? How about below ground level? How far down do you own?

[retributionnk]

I personally claim a 200nm exclusive economic zone around my house. Any usuable resources in that area belong to me! Seriously though, that is a great question. I'll look into it, but I'm sure someone with the knowledge in their brains already will have posted an answer before I find the info.

[okisteve]

Ron Paul might have been trying to make the point that we need to recognize that the true cost of pollution includes damage done to other's health and property. I suspect he couched it in terms of "private property rights" and "free markets" to get the attention of conservative voters.

In fact, it is a major point that conservative business interests are fighting tooth and nail. I hope he can make some headway with them.