Topic: Government

The Supreme Court’s ‘303 Creative’ Decision – Right Result but Not for the Best Reasons

– July 10, 2023

“Freedom of contract, property rights, and economic liberties in general became disfavored as advocates of big government got their way. That is why cases like 303 Creative have to be litigated under the First Amendment.” ~ George Leef

Authoritarianism, Government, Regulation

Regulatory Alphabet Soup and the Visible Foot of Government

– July 1, 2023

“What is a wonder is that the financial and administrative costs are so invisible in daily life. The juggernaut of federal involvement in the economy is typically hidden behind a corporate veil.” ~ Nikolai Wenzel

Crisis, Education, Government, Media

Artificially Stimulated Stupidity

– June 22, 2023

“For most of its existence, humanity has sought to reduce its innate stupidity and ignorance through education, training, and relatively reliable methods of generating and transmitting new information. Lately, all have broken down.” ~ Robert. E. Wright

Government, Policy, Taxation

Votes For and Votes Against

– June 20, 2023

“If we think of votes as ‘votes for’ candidates, then it would make some sense to declare any candidate who wins only a plurality of votes, but not a majority, as the victor.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Books, Economic History, Government

Announcing New Deal Rebels, edited by Amity Shlaes

– June 18, 2023

“Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ administration had a transformative impact on American society and the understanding of the government’s role in it. AIER was similarly founded during the same era and in response to that changing nature of government. ” ~ William Ruger

Free Trade, Government, History

How Trump and Biden Are Blowing Up the Free-Trade System America Worked So Hard to Build

– June 16, 2023

“Globalization has helped generate previously unknown wealth – and health – in rich and poor nations alike. As evidenced by Trump and Biden, a President may use his unilateral tariff authority for ill.” ~ David B. McGarry

Crisis, Government, Regulation

Punishing the Punishers

– June 15, 2023

“If, though, the FBI, NEA, NPR, or the ‘Ministry of Truth’ receives an allocation of, say, only $10, the punishment for incompetence or venality has been fairly meted out, has it not? What could be more democratic than direct dollar democracy?” ~ Robert E. Wright

Central Banking, Government, Inflation

Too Much Power?

– June 11, 2023

“Time will tell if future Fed officials are as resistant to political pressures as its current leadership, succumb to seemingly ever-resurgent MMT influences, or exercise great responsibility in maintaining a sound monetary policy.” ~ David Gillette and Lauren Frazier

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Government, Technology

Government Surveillance Injures the Innocent

– June 8, 2023

“The asymmetry of the surveillance state belies its true purpose: to protect the government, not the people.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Authoritarianism, Energy, Government

The Spurious Efficiency of Dishwashers

– June 2, 2023

“To economists, labor is a resource that is to be used efficiently, just like any other resource.” ~ James Hanley

Books, Government, Policy

A Higher Minimum Wage, More Unions, and More Public Housing. Review of ‘Poverty, by America’ by Matthew Desmond

– June 1, 2023

“Desmond’s policy proposals almost all double down on collaboration between big government, big business, and big labor–the ‘system’ against which the American left first cut its teeth protesting.” ~ Max Gulker

Crisis, Government, Media

Media Independence Does Not Really Mean Media Independence

– June 1, 2023

“No politician needs to bribe a journalist. All that is needed is a politician’s power to sculpt the shape of the news market in ways that are to his advantage.” ~ Vincent Geloso