Ever wonder what your city might look like if it was governed solely by the fundamental principles of this country’s founders? The Goldwater Institute has just published a road map to such a vision with its “10 Rights to Restrain Government and Protect Freedom.” While couched in language that invokes the original Bill of Rights, the document outlines a entire new constitution for local governments that would significantly limit their powers to interfere with our lives and protect the right to use our property as we see fit.

Author Nick Dranias paints a picture of how the American view of government — with a separation of powers and hefty barriers to imposing new regulations — simply does not apply to local governments in Arizona. Most power flows downward from a single governing board that frequently usurps authority to dictate the actions of specific individuals.  As a result, Dranias argues, local governments have enjoyed explosive growth in the past two decades that can’t be sustained because they are so expensive to operate.

So Dranias offers a set of sweeping reforms in a Local Liberty Charter that  would radically change the organization and practical impact of counties, cities and other local governments. Some of the provisions include:

• A codified presumption of liberty, that everyone “is free to
  act peaceably and honestly,” and government should interfere with that freedom only when there’s an clear, immediate threat to public safety or health.
• Require the automatic repeal of all regulations unless the government can prove a specific regulation meets a limited number of transparent standards.
• Eliminate all zoning laws and rely instead on private covenants and property-owner associations, similar to how land-use management works now how in Houston.
• Clearly separate legislative, executive and judicial functions at the local level.
• Force police departments to reduce crime by meeting certain benchmarks, or contract with another jurisdiction to do the job instead.
• Limit spending growth to the rate of population growth plus inflation. And,
• Reject all federal funds that come with any mandates or strings attached, which is just about every dime that Congress doles out.

As is common in think-tank reports, Goldwater focuses on principles and good theories while ignoring the political realities. For example, libertarian purists always point to Houston as their ideal but no other American city has ever dropped its zoning laws to try that model. And for a few years in the 1980s, the Prescott City Council rejected federal funds that are sought routinely sought by other municipalities. That policy lasted until Prescott found itself at risk of running out of water supplies to support development. (Federal grants are available for water treatment and accessing new water sources).

Still, the Goldwater report provides a new prism to use as the public examines what local government is doing, and what might be a better approach to promote liberty and a free people.