Topic: Policy

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, History, Policy

Reaching Across the Aisle for the Bill of Rights: Learning from a Political Odd Couple

– September 29, 2023

“If Americans want to expand and guarantee protections for free speech, they can gain inspiration from the contributions of Republican Alfred Landon and Socialist Norman Thomas.” ~David Beito

Economic History, History, Immigration, Policy

Is America Today Less Able Than In the Past to Economically “Absorb” Immigrants?

– September 29, 2023

“The contempt with which some native-born Americans today hold the people whom they fear would immigrate to the US under a more liberal regime differs not one iota from the contempt with which these same Americans’ immigrant ancestors were held by earlier generations.” ~Donald J. Boudreaux

Books, Economic History, Education, Policy

Academic Lies about Free-Market Economists

– September 23, 2023

“They treat history as ‘an armoury from which to ransack politically expedient weapons.’ In the process of that ransacking, they cross the line into willful misrepresentations of their source material, all in the service of a modern-day political cause. ” ~Phillip W. Magness

Art and Culture, Education, History, Policy

Freedom of Choice in Education: the Origins of a Slogan

– September 16, 2023

“The Virginia Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, linked arms with segregationist attorney John S. Battle, Jr. to attack the tuition grants.” ~Phillip Magness

Authoritarianism, Environmentalism, Policy, Science

Warm-Mongers vs. Classical Liberals

– September 14, 2023

“Classical liberalism can stand proud on the climate issue—and offers the first-best policy of do no harm.” ~ Robert Bradley

Books, Government, Policy

Needed: More People to Keep Asking Why

– September 13, 2023

“If you pay attention to public policy, you have probably come up with your own list of ‘not asked, much less answered’ questions that stick with you.” ~ Gary Galles

Books, Economic Education, Philosophy, Policy

Peter Turchin’s ‘End Times,’ A Review

– September 10, 2023

“Turchin’s model does appear to shed some light on the ‘elite-vs-deplorable’ dynamic playing out in our national drama.” ~ Thaddeus Meadows and Mike Ryall

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, Policy, Regulation

Respectfully Disagreeing With George Will on the Drug War

– September 9, 2023

“As long as the police are charged with enforcing drug prohibitions, they simply cannot be held accountable.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Environmentalism, Government, Policy

Blame, Trade-Offs, and the Maui Wildfires

– August 31, 2023

“Making big and simple promises is the easy part of politics. Telling constituencies that there may be difficult and painful trade-offs is difficult.” ~ Anthony Gill

Books, Economic History, Policy, Property Rights, Regulation

Locked Down: What Do We Really Need Collective Action For?

– August 30, 2023

“Locke’s view, reflected in our Founding documents, is that preserving our freedoms requires one type of collective action: the preservation of our rights. No more. Actions beyond that benefit some at the expense of others.” ~ Gary M. Galles

Books, Economic History, History, Policy

What Is the New Deal with the New Deal?

– August 29, 2023

“The tide of historiographical battle may finally turn and with it many old canards about the culpability of the gold standard, stock shorting, greed, and so forth in the downturn.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Government, History, Policy, War and Peace

Remembering President Harding

– August 27, 2023

“Notwithstanding the scandals, Harding’s legacy for electoral success, economic achievements, and national wealth remain unsurpassed.” ~ Will Sellers