This was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 19, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. Americans often clamor about “excessive” regulations. They do not argue against regulations as a matter of principle, but only those that go “too far.” As an example, they might cite an Agriculture Department regulation that requires magicians to obtain a…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 18, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. Opinion polls regularly find that banks, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and oil companies are among the most reviled businesses in the nation. But these companies have more in common than widespread contempt from the public; they are among the most…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 17, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. Occupational licensing is presented as a way to protect consumers from unscrupulous and incompetent individuals. Licensing, we are told, will assure consumers that they are dealing with reputable and competent practioners. In the past, licensing was simply a way to…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 16, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. The Washington, D.C. City Council recently increased the city’s minimum wage in retail stores to $12.50 an hour. But, like many laws, this one has exceptions that benefit those with political connections. For example, the law, which was written by…
This was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 15, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. In an opinion piece on CNN.com, Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis decries a Republican proposal to close 90 percent of the state-funded women’s clinics, after previously closing fifty such clinics: Real Texans don’t want any woman to lose control of…
CNN.com has a feature on student loan horror stories. Among those included in the story are Lisa and Heather Harden-Stone, who have a combined $380,000 in student loan debt. Heather, who has a masters degree in environmental studies, said, “I really had no idea of the true cost of college. I just signed what I…
Many people view the debate over gay marriage as a conflict between religious liberty and the rights of gays. And this is true, if one rejects the principle of individual rights. Rights pertain to freedom of action—the freedom to act without coercion. When coercion is banned from human affairs, the interactions between individuals are based…
In October 2012, 15-year old Malala Yousufzai was shot in the head by a Taliban assassin. The reason? Malala challenged Taliban rule through her blog. CNN reports: “Where in the Quran does it say that girls should not be educated?” she asked last year. “I have the right to play. I have the right to…
On Monday, the Republican Party issued a report addressing how it can improve its performance in national elections. (I don’t care to read the 100 page report and am relying on CNN for this post.) According to Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus, “It all goes back to what our moms used to tell…
On Monday, Rush Limbaugh stated that supporters of gay marriage are misapplying or incorrectly defining freedom. However, at no point in his monologue did Rush provide us with a definition. The closest he came was to state that freedom requires virtue, morality and “proper constraints and restraints.” “Constraints and restraints” means limitations and restrictions. Rush…
On a number of occasions, Rush Limbaugh has spoken of the “invisible hand” described by Adam Smith. It is not out of benevolence, Rush has said, that your grocer sells you food. It is the grocer’s self-interest—his desire to earn a profit—that motivates him. But, Rush has quickly added, self-interest is not the same as…