But what do you mean by "in Europe?  You're next."  That seems highly unlikely.  England, particularly, has some of the most favorable land use laws around -- remember how Madonna was upset because the public could use her land for walks, etc.  And in Scandinavia, walkers can even camp and collect firewood on private property.  Community rights over individual rights!

I made that assertion on the basis of a seminar (and subsequent conversation) that I had with Harvey M. Jacobs, who's a professor at Univ. Wisconsin-Madison and affiliated with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He's considered one of the leading experts on property rights movements and he's written extensively on the U.S. movement.

Lately, Jacobs has been researching a parallel movement in Europe. Now obviously, the precise legal basis will be different in Europe -- prop rights activists there can't very well refer to the takings clause of the US Constitution. But many of the same features are in play. They're trying to make an argument that they should be paid when property laws prevent them from maximizing profit on their land. And they're sharing information and strategy with the U.S. movement.

In Norway, for example, significant parts of the agricultural community are beginning to agitate for waivers from the ag. zoning that they are under (unless, of course, they get compensation). Some farmers and rural landowners want to convert their properties and be allowed to subdivide for vacation homes or develop other uses. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?