Friday, December 31, 2010

Constitution Is Old, Confusing, and Meaningless

Obamacare, the Constitution, and the Original Meaning of the Commerce Clause

"Several lawsuits over the health-care reform’s individual mandate hinge on interpretations of the constitution’s Commerce Clause. This clause is widely believed to grant Congress broad power over national markets. But that isn’t what the founders had in mind."

Obamacare, the Constitution, and the Original Meaning of the Commerce Clause: Newsroom: The Independent Institute

John Stossel

"Politicians are so arrogant that they think they can make people wealthier just by mandating it."

Minimum Wage Hurts Workers (Tonight on Fox News @ 10pm ET) « John Stossel

The Politics of 'Nudge'

"Watch out for any attempt to use your inertia to steer you. Freedom should be the default."

The politics of 'Nudge'

Eight Botched Environmental Forecasts

"What's the track record of those most worried about global warming?"

FoxNews.com - Eight Botched Environmental Forecasts

Tariffs and Freedom

"America’s impressive economic growth during the nineteenth century was in fact the result of free trade—trade unhampered within the expansive boundaries of a country that was huge, growing, and diverse in both its geography and its population."

Tariffs and Freedom | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty

Government Costs More Than You Think

"If you seek to measure the cost of a government, its budget is a good place to start. But your search won’t end there. Only some of the costs imposed by government in any given year show up in its operating budget."

John Hood's Syndicated Weekly Column | Government Costs More Than You Think | John Locke Foundation

Looking into the Crystal Ball for Tax Policy in 2011

"As we get ready to ring in the New Year, it is fun to look into the crystal ball and see what 2011 will bring us in the world of tax policy."

The Tax Foundation - Looking into the Crystal Ball for Tax Policy in 2011

Minister Warns on Mortgage Regulation

“The problem is that, at the moment, it [the mortgage market] is not competitive enough.”

FT.com / Companies / Property - Minister warns on mortgage regulation

IRS 2010 Milestones

A not very scientific list of 10 highs and lows we taxpayers saw in 2010, mostly from the IRS, but some from our elected representatives in Congress.

IRS 2010 Milestones - Robert W. Wood - The Tax Lawyer - Forbes

Spending Cuts, Student Revolts, and the Debt Crisis

"Prospective university students are a fairly small and powerless group which is probably why they were among those targeted for these relatively minor cuts.  Given the considerable amount of disruption this small group has caused after being asked to contribute more for their subsidised education, it is disturbing to contemplate the public disorder that would likely erupt should more drastic cuts occur down the road. "

Spending Cuts, Student Revolts, and the Debt Crisis » The Cobden Centre

Top Ten Heritage Videos of 2010

Top Ten Heritage Videos of 2010 | The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.

Fox News Makes You Stupid?

"Beware pranksters disguised as pollsters trying to suggest Fox News viewers are dumber than most Americans. It is somehow 'misinformed' if you don't support Obamanomics."

Bozell Column: Fox News Makes You Stupid?

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Freedom Trumps China's Economic Model

"While the 'American Consensus' has run off the rails in recent years, that does not mean its model of economic liberalization and freedom has failed. The problem is that America has fallen off the free-market wagon and is acting more like China - not the other way around. Both nations need more free-market economics and less Chinese-style 'consensus'-directed solutions."

Freedom Trumps China's Economic Model | The Heritage Foundation

Reason.tv's Greatest Hits in 2010!

"Attack ads, TSA follies, Beck/Stewart rallies, dramatic Olbermann vs. dramatic chipmunk, and more."

Reason.tv's Greatest Hits in 2010! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

The Five Worst Op-Eds of 2010

"For my last column this year, I'd rather tap into my inner Scrooge for a list of the worst op-eds of 2010."

The Five Worst Op-Eds of 2010 | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Constitution In Focus

"When Republicans take over the House next week, they will do something that apparently has never been done before in the chamber's 221-year history:

They will read the Constitution aloud."

Constitution is focus of new GOP House rules

Assessing 2010’s Economy and Looking Ahead

"It was the year that the economy started to recover and then slid back into a slump — only to offer reason for renewed hope in the final weeks."

Assessing 2010’s Economy and Looking Ahead - David Leonhardt - NYTimes.com

Government Is Creating Another Bubble

"It is hard to believe, but it looks like the government will soon use the taxpayers' checkbook again to create a vast market for mortgages with low or no down payments and for overstretched borrowers with blemished credit."

Articles & Commentary

Book Review: When Money Dies

"Images of kindling currency and economic chaos are an essential element in our understanding of the rise of Hitler. Mr. Fergusson adds valuable nuance to a familiar story. His tale begins not, as would be popularly assumed, in the aftermath of Germany's political and military collapse in 1918 (by which point the mark had halved against the pound) but in the original decision to fund the war effort largely through debt—a decision with uncomfortable contemporary parallels (one of many in this book) tailor-made for today's end-timers."

Book Review: When Money Dies - WSJ.com

PBS Myths of Cuba

End Of American Era? Don't Count On It

"The current debt, recession, wars and political infighting have depressed Americans into thinking they soon will be supplanted by more vigorous rivals abroad. Yet this is an American fear as old as it is improbable."

End Of American Era? Don't Count On It - Investors.com

Beyond the Start-Up Nation

"Israelis tell a joke about a Jew who takes to reading Arab newspapers. A friend, puzzled, asks him why. If I read the Israeli papers, all I hear is bad news about the Jews, he replies; but the Arab papers constantly claim we are all rich and successful, and rule the world."

Schumpeter: Beyond the start-up nation | The Economist

Politics Without Mainstream Opinion

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Copernican Revolution Coming to Economics

"...the whole idea of macroeconomics is a fraud"

Fact And Comment - Forbes.com

Bastiat Society Meeting - January 5th


Please join us in welcoming Dr. Doug Walker from the College of Charleston Economics Department.

Dr. Walker received his Ph.D at Auburn in Economics in the Spring of 1998. His research focuses on economic and social effects of gambling. Walker published the book titled The Economics of Casino Gambling in 2007 and has been published in numerous journal articles on the economic impact of gambling. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Annals of Tourism Research, the UNLV Gaming Research and Review Journal, and is a member of the Bastiat Society.

His talk is entitled:

'Is Legalized Casino Gambling Good for the Economy?'

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Where We Stand and Where We Must Go

"I would argue that the Austrian school of economics, long forgotten amongst the elite is the only school that has consistently explained why economies grow and why they collapse, and how it is government intervention, primarily through the central planning of money and credit in a bank like the Federal Reserve that sows the seeds of ultimate collapse; and secondarily through intervention in confiscatory taxation, subsidization, protectionism, incessant regulation and redistribution of wealth that ends up bankrupting nations and has done so historically, with the central bank as the trusty aid of the politicians who perpetuate this system by helping pay off chosen constituents."

» Where We Stand and Where We Must Go - Big Government

The Power Politics of the Prize

"Vargas Llosa’s politics are libertarian: He supports free trade, opposes drug prohibition, and frequently quotes Milton Friedman."

The Power Politics of the Prize - Reason Magazine

Local Government Stupidity Contest

"This post could be entitled, “So many bad decisions, so little time"

Local Government Stupidity Contest | Cato @ Liberty

Undoing College

"These students, however, are not exhausted from “working on” anything.  Rather, their state of mind is akin to how someone looks at a second slice of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving dinner after he has already downed 5000 calories of turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, green bean casserole, and that first slice of pie. "

NAS - The National Association of Scholars :: Articles and Archives Undoing College Jason Fertig

Follow Our Leader

"American business leaders, most of them, will continue to follow their leader, together with their enemies, the liberals and the left."

Capitalism Magazine - Follow Our Leader

How Government Failure Caused the Great Recession

The interaction of six government policies explains the timing, severity, and global impact of the financial crisis.

How Government Failure Caused the Great Recession — The American, A Magazine of Ideas

Political End-Runs

"Progressives consider the Constitution, and our elected representatives, disposable nuisances."

Political End-Runs - Thomas Sowell - National Review Online

Fed’s Free Money

Fed’s Free Money Beckons This Important Writer: Kevin Hassett - Bloomberg

Monday, December 27, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

The Top 10 Economic Myths of 2010

Journalists' tall tales included praising GM for 'keeping faith' with taxpayers, comparing soda to cocaine, and attacking the Chamber of Commerce over baseless 'foreign money' claims.

The Top 10 Economic Myths of 2010

Europe's pension seizures

Europe's pension seizures

Discouraging Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs - Investors.com

Discouraging Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs - Investors.com

On Corporate Personhood | Bureaucrash - Join the Resistance

On Corporate Personhood | Bureaucrash - Join the Resistance

Small Businesses Not Growing? That's Because Regulations Are | Competitive Enterprise Institute

Small Businesses Not Growing? That's Because Regulations Are | Competitive Enterprise Institute

Vinod Khosla: Searching For The Radical Solution

"Environmentalists have been very good at identifying the problems we need to solve. They are horrible at picking the answers. I believe most environmentalists most of the time are getting in the way of answers that make economic sense. Economic gravity always wins. That's why I have the mantra about unsubsidized market-competitiveness."

Vinod Khosla: Searching For The Radical Solution: Scientific American Podcast

The Reason Cruise! The Ultimate Last-Minute Christmas Gift! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine




The Reason Cruise! The Ultimate Last-Minute Christmas Gift! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Why Economists Hate Presents, And How Seventh Graders Solved The Problem : Planet Money : NPR

Why Economists Hate Presents, And How Seventh Graders Solved The Problem : Planet Money : NPR

Econ-101 with Dr. Ron Paul - Dean Zarras - On Civil Society - Forbes

Econ-101 with Dr. Ron Paul - Dean Zarras - On Civil Society - Forbes

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Would Ron Paul Really Try To End The Fed? : NPR

Would Ron Paul Really Try To End The Fed? : NPR

The Age of Uncertainty - Michael G. Franc - National Review Online

The Age of Uncertainty - Michael G. Franc - National Review Online

Greedy Innkeeper, Or Generous Capitalist? - Forbes.com

Greedy Innkeeper, Or Generous Capitalist? - Forbes.com

Why Do Firms Exist?

from the Economist:

FOR philosophers the great existential question is: “Why is there something rather than nothing?” For management theorists the more mundane equivalent is: “Why do firms exist? Why isn’t everything done by the market?”

Happy 100th birthday to Ronald Coase.

Monday, December 20, 2010

More Money Doesn't Mean More Happiness: Scientific American Podcast

More Money Doesn't Mean More Happiness: Scientific American Podcast

The Supreme Court and Obama’s Health Care Law - NYTimes.com

The Supreme Court and Obama’s Health Care Law - NYTimes.com

Made on Earth: How Global Economic Integration Renders Trade Policy Obsolete | Daniel J. Ikenson | Cato Institute: Trade Policy Analysis

Made on Earth: How Global Economic Integration Renders Trade Policy Obsolete | Daniel J. Ikenson | Cato Institute: Trade Policy Analysis

Nocera on the Crisis and All the Devils Are Here | EconTalk | Library of Economics and Liberty

Nocera on the Crisis and All the Devils Are Here | EconTalk | Library of Economics and Liberty

Management: Enemy of Enterprise - Doug French - Mises Daily

Management: Enemy of Enterprise - Doug French - Mises Daily

Is America Saturated with College Grads? - CCAP - Higher Education and the Economy - Forbes

Is America Saturated with College Grads? - CCAP - Higher Education and the Economy - Forbes

Austerity: Word of the Year

Function:noun
Inflected Form:plural -ties
Date:14th century

1 : the quality or state of being austere
2 a : an austere act, manner, or attitude b : an ascetic practice
3 : enforced or extreme economy

Let's hope that our leaders actually read the definition...

.

George Ought to Help

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Tax The Rich Con Part II - Forbes.com

The Tax The Rich Con Part II - Forbes.com

School Choice Comes Straight Outta Compton Due to Parents Wit Attitude! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

School Choice Comes Straight Outta Compton Due to Parents Wit Attitude! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

School Choice Comes Straight Outta Compton Due to Parents Wit Attitude! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

School Choice Comes Straight Outta Compton Due to Parents Wit Attitude! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Central Banks as Sources of Financial Instability: The Independent Review: The Independent Institute

Central Banks as Sources of Financial Instability: The Independent Review: The Independent Institute

Rethinking the MBA: What is the Purpose of Management Education? - The CSR Blog - corporate social responsibility - Forbes

Rethinking the MBA: What is the Purpose of Management Education? - The CSR Blog - corporate social responsibility - Forbes

FT.com / Companies / Food & Beverage - McDonald’s chief attacks children’s meal ‘food police’

FT.com / Companies / Food & Beverage - McDonald’s chief attacks children’s meal ‘food police’

Reason.tv: Is Wikileaks a Force For Good? Four Experts on Our Wiki-Future - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Reason.tv: Is Wikileaks a Force For Good? Four Experts on Our Wiki-Future - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Monday, December 6, 2010

Diminishing returns?: U.S. Science Productivity Continues to Drop: Scientific American

Diminishing returns?: U.S. Science Productivity Continues to Drop: Scientific American

Rethinking the scientific method : The New Yorker

Rethinking the scientific method : The New Yorker

Why “state capitalism” is China’s biggest knockoff : The New Yorker

Why “state capitalism” is China’s biggest knockoff : The New Yorker

Can we trust in entrepreneurship? - Coordination Problem

Can we trust in entrepreneurship? - Coordination Problem

Lord Townshend on Trade and Morality - Murray N. Rothbard - Mises Daily

Lord Townshend on Trade and Morality - Murray N. Rothbard - Mises Daily

America's Road to Financial Ruin - Doug French - Mises Daily

America's Road to Financial Ruin - Doug French - Mises Daily

Without Tax Credit, Housing Market Isn't 'Pretty' : The Two-Way : NPR

Without Tax Credit, Housing Market Isn't 'Pretty' : The Two-Way : NPR

Europe's Debt Solution: More Borrowing : Planet Money : NPR

Europe's Debt Solution: More Borrowing : Planet Money : NPR

Humility in Economics | Acton Institute

Humility in Economics | Acton Institute

Schumpeter: The status seekers | The Economist

Schumpeter: The status seekers | The Economist

Estate Tax Bootleggers, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

Estate Tax Bootleggers, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

Interactive: 10 Years of the Dollar vs. the World - Forbes.com

Interactive: 10 Years of the Dollar vs. the World - Forbes.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010

200 Years of Health and Wealth Data for 200 Countries in 4 Minutes - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine



200 Years of Health and Wealth Data for 200 Countries in 4 Minutes - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Regulation of, by, and for Big Business, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

Regulation of, by, and for Big Business, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

SSRN-From Rabbit Ears to Flat Screen: It’s Getting Better All the Time! by Steven Horwitz, Stewart Dompe

SSRN-From Rabbit Ears to Flat Screen: It’s Getting Better All the Time! by Steven Horwitz, Stewart Dompe

Mounting Debts by States Stoke Fears of Crisis - NYTimes.com

Mounting Debts by States Stoke Fears of Crisis - NYTimes.com

Bad Credit Risks U.S. Global Role : NPR

Bad Credit Risks U.S. Global Role : NPR

New at Reason: How to Balance the Budget Without Raising Taxes - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

New at Reason: How to Balance the Budget Without Raising Taxes - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

No Doubt Ben Bernanke is Sincere, But What If He is Sincerely Wrong? - Coordination Problem

No Doubt Ben Bernanke is Sincere, But What If He is Sincerely Wrong? - Coordination Problem

Neal Boortz: Let flat-screen TVs heat the moochers  | ajc.com

Neal Boortz: Let flat-screen TVs heat the moochers  | ajc.com

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Nicholls State University - Bastiat's Bastions » About Bastiat’s Bastions

Nicholls State University - Bastiat's Bastions » About Bastiat’s Bastions

Assange: I'm Influenced by "American libertarianism, market libertarianism" - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Assange: I'm Influenced by "American libertarianism, market libertarianism" - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

When Do People Care About Civil Liberties? When Their Team Doesn't Run the Federal Government, That's When - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

When Do People Care About Civil Liberties? When Their Team Doesn't Run the Federal Government, That's When - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Event: The Virtue of Prosperity | Acton Institute

Event: The Virtue of Prosperity | Acton Institute

When Will Home Prices Stop Falling? : Planet Money : NPR

When Will Home Prices Stop Falling? : Planet Money : NPR

New at Reason: Ronald Bailey Delves Into the Evolutionary Link Between Religion and Cooperation - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

New at Reason: Ronald Bailey Delves Into the Evolutionary Link Between Religion and Cooperation - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

Where Americans Earn The Most

There's gold in that there swamp!


Where Americans Earn The Most - Forbes.com