Topic: Government

Two Centuries of Dostoevsky

– January 16, 2022

“By the end of the speech, Russia had become a symbol of the realization of Dostoevsky’s vision of universal brotherhood. ‘Oh, the nations of Europe know how dear they are to us,” he concluded.'” ~ Christopher Sandford

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Government, Science

The Government Scientific Agency Oxymoron

– January 15, 2022

“America might be best off if all government funding was phased out over a few years but barring that, a more decentralized, merit-based, or even randomized grant decision-making system needs to be implemented” ~ Robert E. Wright

Books, Crisis, Education, Government

Yes, Blame the Federal Student Loans

– January 14, 2022

“As important as all this context is, it does not detract from by far the most important message of Mitchell’s fascinating and highly readable book: federal student lending, often fueled by good intentions, is ‘help’ that has very often hurt.” ~ Neal McCluskey

Crisis, Government, Policy

Institutions, Incentives, and the Impending Death of the Senate Filibuster

– January 14, 2022

“If the old rules failed to function as intended, there would be more justification for junking the filibuster altogether. That would be a sad day for the republic, but at least we would have tried to save it.” ~ James E. Hanley

Art and Culture, Government, Media

Spielberg’s West Side Story Doubles Down on Tragedy of Prejudice

– January 13, 2022

“The emphasis remains on the tragic consequences of failing to recognize and honor individuals for who they are, the soul-tearing nature of violence to resolve disputes, and the need to promote more honest and sincere dialogue to promote understanding and peace.” ~ Samuel R. Staley

Authoritarianism, Government, Media, Socialism

Rise of the Jacobins: America’s Socialists Want Your Help

– January 13, 2022

“The idea that socialism, other than various forms of voluntary communities in which people choose material privation and seek agreed equality, is the answer to anything runs against human experience.” ~ Doug Bandow

Economic Education, Government, Monetary Policy

Does Monetary Policy Matter?

– January 13, 2022

“The Fed’s actual performance has not been ideal. Its monetary policy mistakes have had dire consequences for ordinary Americans and the US economy. Those mistakes make it clear that monetary policy matters.” ~ Thomas L. Hogan

Classical Liberalism, Government, History, Philosophy

Hijacking Liberalism: Spencer’s The Man Versus the State

– January 12, 2022

“At best, Scholars often view Spencer as a magnificent dinosaur, at worst a grumpy phantom of Christmas past—this is a mistake. The hijacking of ‘liberalism’ was a triumph. Perhaps this makes it all the more important to understand how it happened.” ~ Alberto Mingardi

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Government, Science

Fauci Lies in the Senate

– January 12, 2022

“The emails quickly made the rounds, and they reveal Fauci’s modus operandi. He speaks ‘the science’ to the public while working in private to stifle dissenting views.” ~ David Waugh & James R. Harrigan

Crisis, Economic Education, Fiscal Policy, Government

Stimulus & Wages, What Exactly Happened?

– January 12, 2022

“Going forward, there should be less of a one-size-fits-all approach to such policy, as a more targeted bill would minimize waste of scarce resources, and curtail detrimental consequences, like inflation, to working-class Americans.” ~ Siddharth Gundapaneni

Economic Education, Fiscal Policy, Government, Inflation

Why Deficits Matter

– January 11, 2022

“If we want to argue deficits matter more conventionally, we’ll have to do some more theoretical heavy lifting. The usual aggregate demand stories we tell don’t cut it.” ~ Alexander William Salter

Art and Culture, Free Markets, Government

The Very American Meaning of Roman Kaplan, Founder of Russian Samovar

– January 11, 2022

“All we know is that for people of all stripes around the world, there’s an American inside many of them just bursting to flower. Roman Kaplan’s beautiful life is a reminder that we erect barriers to very American people the world over to our detriment.” ~ John Tamny