The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Article 1, section 14 of the Wisconsin Constitution states:

“All lands within the state are declared to be allodial, and feudal tenures are prohibited.”

What does allodial property mean?

It basically means that you own your real property, absolutely free of any superior sovereign. At least that what’s it’s supposed to mean, but big government has had other ideas.

Allodial property means no government regulations on your property use. None. It means no zoning laws. It means no building codes. It means no smart growth. It would also mean no property taxes or eminent domain, except a different provision in Article VIII, Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution does allow for taxes. A provision in Article I, section 13 permits eminent domain.

Government schools do a terrible job teaching our students about allodial property rights. So do the law schools. Government licenses to operate your business would be a non-starter if we followed the concept of allodial property.

It might be a tough sell to get the Wisconsin legislature or Supreme Court to adhere to the principle of allodial property. But the language exists in the Wisconsin Constitution in black & white. So any legislator or judge can merely refer to the plain language of the text to defend their position, should the spirit move them.

It should be noted that Thomas Jefferson was a strident defender of allodial property in his influential 1774 “Summary View of the Rights of British America”. This is the book that made Jefferson a famous national figure.

If you think the concept of allodial property in Wisconsin is too radical, it would be a better idea to amend the Constitution rather than undermine the rule of law.

Rolf Lindgren is the Pints & Politics Director of the Republican Party of Dane County. He is a singer under the name “Wisco Rolf” and his website is WiscoRolf.com – The Badger State’s Musical Maverick & Liberty’s Voice