SURFING

While out on the water yesterday, I remembered seeing a blog post last summer on Surfing and Property Rights: sure enough, here is is. Waves as scare goods? Homesteading a wave? Surfer property rights? Come on. You can't "homestead" a wave. You can't even claim a wave as your property. "Dropping in" is generally quite difficult and costly. It doesn't earn you very many friends. So, sure there are norms and customs, but all you really have are surfers who generally see the benefits of cooperation. That's why most of us choose to live in society in the first place (instead of a shack in the middle of Idaho). Big deal.

If there is a property rights issue with surfing it's that the beaches (surf spots) are publicly-owned. Any Tommy Tough Guy with a wetsuit can gain entrance at no cost. Public run-off pollutes the waters.

I think I have a blog post for tomorrow: Standing in Line for The Restroom (at a Sports Arena) and Property Rights. It will include insights on "No Cuts, No Butts, No Coconuts" and homsteading a urinal.

Sure to be popular in the libertarian blogosphere.