“We've decided this by vote. All those in favor of going, say ‘Aye’. All those in favor of staying, saying ‘Nay’. “Aye!” shouted Thidwick. But when he was done… “Nay!” they all yelled. He lost ‘leven to one.” – Thidwick, The Big-Hearted Moose
Recently, a Nevada man took matters into his own hands and conducted a DIY takeback of his mother’s California home, after squatters moved in following the death of her husband. Bypassing police and courts, the man was able to repossess in one day what typically took months if not years to accomplish. Police, unable to discern legal ownership, often refuse to arrest illegal tenants, leaving possession issues to the court to decide. Courts, however, at times, have rewarded squatters with ownership under a legal principle called “adverse possession”, where trespassers are handed property by remaining on it for a predetermined amount of time. Now, as the economy continues to worsen, desperate people are emboldened to seek out empty dwellings in which to set up houses, a phenomenon rising from coast to coast.
In Dr. Seuss’s 1948 book, “Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose”, Seuss addresses the freeloader problem in his tale about a moose and how his horns gradually become a hotel to nearly a dozen forest animals, as more and more creatures embark to take advantage of his kindness. Appropriate for children ages 2-8, Thidwick is eventually forced from his familiar herd for refusing to acquiesce to the demand of his guests, an action he feared would be deemed inhospitable. Then when hunters arrive, Thidwick is too weighed down to outrun them. Thankfully, nature steps in, and his horns are shed, leaving his problems behind.
In the end, the animals riding on Thidwick’s horns got what they deserved. Despite Thidwick’s agreement to allow the bug to have a ride, he did not give his approval to the rest of the crowd that simply showed up and set up camp on his horns. The moral of the story teaches children that kindness has limits. When you begin to take advantage of someone’s goodwill, you can quickly wear out your welcome.
In economics, the free rider problem exists when people benefit from a resource at little or no cost to them, like a lighthouse that provides a beacon of light for all ships to maneuver. Free rider benefits are often provided by the government and paid for through taxes. Potential for abuse arises under another principle called the Tragedy of the Commons, which leads to overuse of the resource. Here, a user, acting out of either self-interest or selfishness, takes advantage of an open-access area to get something for nothing. Overgrazing is a common example, where public grass is quickly depleted when ranchers allow their animals to graze without any concern for regrowth or the land’s future sustainability.
Thidwick’s story is a tale of how a kind gesture turned into a parasite/host dilemma where one organism lives off another, often causing lethal harm to the host. When starved of needed resources, the host must alter its behavior to accommodate the parasite.
Without rental agreements or leases, squatters are wreaking havoc on neighborhoods and citizens across the nation. In many cities and states, trespassers seemingly have more rights than those paying the bills. To get ahead of the growing problem, an increasing number of homeowners of vacant properties are erecting signs warning illegal intruders: “No Trespassing: I own guns and a backhoe.” Squatters beware!
Commentaires