Topic: Regulation

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Free Markets, Regulation

The Gaslighting of the American People

– August 6, 2020

“We can reject gaslighting and insist on regaining our rights, though whether we will forget this nightmare is debatable. Punishing our persecutors is certainly beyond us. A pity.” ~ Caroline Breashears

Crisis, Healthcare, Regulation

My Covid Cri de Cœur

– August 3, 2020

“I cannot explain why the public reacts rationally – that is, without much concern – to news of famous young people testing positive for COVID but, to other news about COVID, reacts irrationally. This discrepancy itself only causes me to worry further about our ability, or willingness, to put COVID in proper perspective in order to restore some semblance of civilized modern life.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Free Markets, Regulation

We Need College Sports This Fall

– July 29, 2020

“The hundreds of thousands of cooperative players, vendors, restaurant and hotel owners, bartenders, waiters, waitresses, and untold millions of fans who have suffered personally, socially, and economically since March cannot bear the losses for much longer, let alone face shortened or canceled seasons. This is our chance to learn from the mistakes made with spring and summer sports and continue with the originally planned college football season. The losses already go far beyond losing games.” ~ Evelyn O’Byrne

Crisis, Economic Education, Regulation

Computer Models Can’t Substitute for Real Life

– July 29, 2020

“Life is NP-Hard, and attempting to express that mentation in a few lines of code is imprudent, yet in and of itself probably harmless. But bringing those projected outcomes to politicians, who have neither the inclination to be skeptical or incentives to act cautiously, is dangerous.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Government, Regulation

Political Legitimacy Dies in 2020

– July 28, 2020

“As Thomas Jefferson declared in 1786, ‘An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.’ What’s the point of voting if ‘government under the law’ is not a choice on Election Day? American political legitimacy will continue plummeting as long as politicians scorn any legal and constitutional limits on their power.” ~ James Bovard

Economic Education, Free Markets, Regulation

Three Ways that Workers Can Be Underpaid

– July 27, 2020

“The bottom line is clear: government is the largest cause of worker underpayment and open, free markets for labor are the best protection against any kind of underpayment.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Regulation

Ridiculous Liquor Regulations

– July 25, 2020

“The good news is that evasive entrepreneurs and an increasingly technologically-empowered public will keep pushing back and hopefully whittle away at the continuing vestiges of Prohibition Era stupidity. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and when people want a drink, crafty entrepreneurs will usually find a way to deliver.” ~ Adam Thierer

Economic Education, Free Markets, Regulation

Masks, Seatbelts, and Peltzman Effects

– July 22, 2020

“A dose of humility on the part of policy-makers and pundits regarding their abilities would be welcomed. This dose of humility might push them to consider what potentially superior ways of dealing with the outbreak exist.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Authoritarianism, Policy, Regulation

After 30 Years, Did the Disabilities Act Work?

– July 22, 2020

“The ADA’s absurdities and ritualized legal racketeering are occurring in an era when Americans have become far more humane, rational, and compassionate towards the disabled. It is time to end the flying kangaroos, college testing scams, and torpedoed websites and to finally curb the parasite lawyers.” ~ James Brovard

Crisis, Regulation

Did the US Lockdown Too Late and Open Too Soon?

– July 20, 2020

“The U.S. imposed lockdowns at the same time as Europe, did so with comparable levels of stringency, and actually reopened at a later date and slower pace than most European nations.” ~ Phil Magness

Crisis, Regulation

A Picture is Worse than a Thousand Words

– July 9, 2020

“A picture is worth a thousand words, but a picture is not a good substitute for thoughtful analysis. Does the image actually support the conclusion? Or even worse, is the image misleading, steering you to an incorrect conclusion?” ~ Ramon DeGennaro

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Regulation

Bill Gates: From Entrepreneur to Supervillain

– July 8, 2020

“Supervillains coerce and harm. Successful entrepreneurs serve and enrich humanity. Gates should return to his entrepreneurial roots.” ~ Barry Brownstein