Public property is not "open to all" for anything they want to do, and the operation of your lemonade stand in the public right of way may be an encumberance upon another's right of way.
There are separate laws for blocking traffic. We do not need to charge people to sell their own stuff.
What if I wanted to set up in the same spot as you are?
First come, first serve. What if someone wants to have a picnic in the park in the same place I do? Whoever gets there first, gets the spot. I guess according to you we need to draw a grid on the ground, and charge a "picnic" fee of 25 dollars, in order to keep such things orderly?
You have no more interest in it than I do, and your getting there first is irrelevant.
No, it is NOT irrelevant. This is how every other aspect of public property works. If my kid gets on the swing first at the park, he gets it: I guess we need to start charging the kids a five dollar "swing permit" fee, in order to control and designate who gets to swing where?
It's ownership that's the issue. See? So, to protect another's right of way, your activity in the public right of way is regulated. The government is basically saying, yes, you may encumber upon another's right of way for this long for this amount of reimbursement to the public.
I believe I have sufficiently debunked this. It is the governments way of saying "we want money from you, and we want control. So pay us 500 dollars for a business license to sell your stuff."
I work in an industry where I have contact with people from all over the world, many from third world countries. You should ask them about their freedoms.
I used to have a friend from Turkey that was CONSTANTLY pointing out all of the things they could do in Turkey, that were forbidden and regulated here.
Again, it is RIDICULOUS for the government to charge me money to sell my stuff in public areas, where anyone is allowed to set up picnics, preach, have get togethers, football games, etc., for free. There is simply no justifying your position that suddenly since I am selling something, that I suddenly have to pay the government for position. This is a clear infringement on my liberty.
No. It's not new, however, I will agree that it has gotten oppressive. The "lemonade stand" in the article, though, is not an example of such.
Yes it IS new. The lemonade stand in the article IS an example of such. There is no reason why these people should not be able to sell their lemonade. It is a violation of the equal protection clause, to say that you can use a public area freely for YOUR activity, (whatever that may be), on a first come first serve basis, but that I have to pay to use it for MY chosen activity. That is oppression, and over stepping of the Government, plain and simple.