In a recent letter to the editor,  the author claimed that, unlike conservatives, liberals may believe “that what we own is not truly ours (and) that the earth cannot be owned.” (“Nation near to important conversation,” Aug. 26)

While the parties do disagree — to some extent — over how certain property (tax revenue) is distributed, property rights are lauded by the left and the right. In President Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope,” he clearly states, “our Constitution places the ownership of private property at the very heart of our system of liberty.”

It is possible the author disagrees with the president on this point. If so, vote for the only candidate who may agree with you — Donald Trump.

In the early 1990s, The Donald wanted to build a casino in Atlantic City, but he needed to acquire a swath of land from some local residents first. To Trump’s dismay, one resident, Vera Cooking, did not want to sell her home.

When she refused, New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (a government agency) condemned her property for “economic development” purposes. Fortunately, Vera Cooking took Trump and his government cronies to court. And with the legal help of the libertarian Institute for Justice, she kept her home.

It may be nice to wistfully wax about “Algonquian tribes” who did not ascribe to “the idea of personal ownership,” but in the modern world property rights play an essential role in protecting the poor.

— Jordan Campbell