"Proof" Deregulation Doesn't Work: Antitrust Law Exemptions
Application of antitrust law is capricious and the exemptions are established to improve the shaky credibility as to the effectiveness of these laws.  Then, when the exemptions ultimately fail to bring objective improvements, they are used as "proof" that deregulation was a bad idea. I have often brought up the idea that deregulation is good.  This applies to specific topics like private health insurance as well as the agricultural industry and banking.  So if I sent you to this article because you and I were chatting/talking about deregulation, welcome, and thank you for following the link! I'll try to keep this short and to the point (well, to the point a

Utilitarian Argument Against Taxes
I'm not a democrat or utilitarian, but one of the things I hear from time to time is the idea that Jesus was a democrat.  At least, that's what democrats say to try to appeal to non-democrats (I think it's because it's assumed that a lot of non-democrats are into Jesus). Basically, the usual assertion is that Jesus helped the suffering, so shouldn't we institutionalize the practice with government mandate? The simple answer is "no."  The complex answer is "no."  And all other answers in between is "no." The US government forwards 23¢ of every dollar it collects to help the suffering.  Playing strictly on the ut

Electronic Cigarettes and the Peak Theory of Economics
First of all, IANAE (I am not an economist).  But I have been studying economics since the summer of 2007.  Since that time, I have run across many economic views.  The one that makes the most sense to me is the Austrian School of Economics. In the most basic terms, the Peak Theory of Economics proposes that the price of something will rise until it doesn't.  I know I have oversimplified it, in a free market the peak would probably coincide with the equilibrium of supply and demand.  Peak prices are exaggerated by interference in the market.  Where the price should stay static or fall slightly (in a free market), political interference causes the price to a

Lies and Propaganda
Let's say your little sweet daughter comes up to you and asks if she can have some of your Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzels Pieces.  And you don't want to share for whatever reason, so you tell her they are yucky.  So she decides that's good enough and stops asking for some. Victory, right?  No.  That's a lie.  The pretzels are in fact very yummy and you know it.  Telling her the opposite of what is true is wrong and will backfire some day. Hopefully, you will never have this happen.  Or if it does happen, you will correct it.  Depending on your child, it may be impossible to correct the problem for many years.  Some kids rememb

A Tribute to the Polish People | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty
This movement should create a situation in which authorities will control empty stores, but not the market; the employment of workers, but not their livelihood; the official media, but not the circulation of information; printing plants, but not the publishing movement; the mail and telephones, but not communications; and the school system, but not education. via thefreemanonline.org An excellent article about where we're headed in the US. Check out the whole article when you get a chance.