by Ryan McMaken
Mises.org
Government regulation of property in the name of mandating “public accommodation” has become one of the easiest ways to expand state power into every enterprise, right down to the tiniest family business.
These regulations — which dictate to private owners who can use their property and with whom owners are required to associate — are claimed to be necessary on the idea that if states to do not micromanage business owners in this respect, then people within disfavored groups (e.g., ethnic minority groups) will have no access to basic goods and services.
This idea has been so politically successful, in fact, that virtually no one running for public office is willing to oppose it, and even the most seemingly radical laissez-faire libertarian will often back down immediately when asked if property owners should be allowed to refuse service to certain groups of people.